Club History
A working steam railway established on the former Rotowaro to Glen Afton railway
12 kms west of Huntly. Steam locomotives once used in the timber and coal
industries are featured, as well as vintage engines and machinery.
As well as regular running of passenger trains, special charter trips can be arranged for groups by prior arrangement.
Open Days are the first Sunday of each month April to December inclusive.
The up-coming dates for 2004 -Sundays only operations - April 4th, May 2nd, June 6th (Queens Birthday weekend Sunday), July 4th, August 1st, September 5th (FATHER'S DAY), October 3rd, November 7th and final for 2004 on December 5th.
History of The Club
The Bush Tramway Club Inc was formed in 1965 to acquire and hopefully restore to working order, steam equipment that was fast being scrapped relating to sawmill and their bush railways - or bush tramways as they were called - and small private railways, e.g coal mine railways, dairy company coal supplies,.
The Club acquired a variety of weird and wonderful gear-driven steam locomotives built especially for hauling large loads up steep grades at slow speeds.
In its infant years, the Club had its headquarters at MOTAT but as the collection grew and space limitations became tighter, a new home was sought.
In 1974 The club was fortunate in acquiring the closed Rotowaro - Glen Afton section of the New Zealand Railways Glen Afton Branch Line, and has since purchased the greater part of its rail corridor land, this being finalised mid-2002.
The Club's collection has continued to grow and now includes small diesel locomotives used on private and N.Z. Railways.
History of The Line
The Line from Huntly to Pukemiro was opened on 20 December 1915 to convey coal from the large coal field at Pukemiro and later from Rotowaro.
Rotowaro means 'coal lake' and Pukemiro 'many miro trees'! One of the first locomotives on this line was an "F" class, the same as one of our locos.
Pukemiro was the end of the line until the line was extended to Glen Afton on 14 June 1924 although coal from the Glen Afton Mine had been carried on the unopened line since 17 June 1923!
The last section of the line into Glen Afton was built by the N.Z.Dairy Coy under contract to the Public Works Department.
Pukemiro Mine was closed in 1967 followed by Glen Afton late in November 1971. As there was no other traffic the line from Rotowaro to Glen Afton was closed in March 1973.
Location
12 kms West of Huntly along Rotowaro Road.
The Pukemiro Line was established on the New Zealand Railways closed branch line from Rotowaro to Glen Afton. The corridor is 5.4 kms long.
The Timetable
The railway operates on the first Sunday of each month April to December. Fire restrictions prohibit summer running. Trains leave Pukemiro Junction (currently) from
10.30 to 3.30 hourly, on the half-hour. The return trip takes about 20 minutes.
The Train
The train is normally hauled by steam locomotives which were used to haul coal
from the Rotowaro and Pukemiro Mines. There is also a wood-only fired loco this
is currently undergoing major overhaul work. (It will act as a work loco, but not
in a passenger carrying capacity - yr 2003/04). The carriages are all wooden
ex-New Zealand Railways dating from 1882/1890 to 1922. The train travels towards
ex-Rotowaro down and up a 1:50 grade and seven chain curves. The atmosphere of the
line through the Glen Afton section and scenery is very much reminiscent of bush
tramways.
Equipment List
GEARED LOCOMOTIVES
1903 Heisler (USA) - currently being viewed to be restored
1924 Climax (USA) - needs restoring
1924 Price 'E' (NZ) - needs restoring
1927 Price 'Cb' (NZ) - Major overhaul work begun July 2001
CONVENTIONAL LOCOMOTIVES
1878 'F' class ex-NZR - complete overhaul begun December 2001
1923 Peckett class - Complete overhaul begun November 2001
DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES
2 small diesel shunters - in working order
2 Tr diesel (ex-NZR TR33 & TR217) shunters
1 Ds type shunter - under restoration
2 X 401 & 402 - ex-Meremere Power Station
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1874 hand-operated crane - in working order - overhaul completed 2001
Various carriages ex-NZR
Mines Car - first built 1882 as 2 X D class cars these as Wellington's No's 8 & 10.
A 328 11/7/1891 put into service as a 39 1/2 ft postal composite
2nd-class car built at NZR's Petone workshops. 1900 rebuilt to a
full postal car 29/9/1900 and fitted with Westinghouse brakes.
An end-toilet was fitted 1903, and in 1909 was rebuilt to a one
compartment - 2nd class with longitudinal seating for 44 passengers.
-For use on the 'Rimitaka Incline' and still in this form today.
Written off on 12/10/45 and sold for 220-0-0 along with sister car
A 329 and bought by Mines -Rotowaro and used as Miners Car
until 1972. The Club purchased it in 1973.
A 1477 - No 3 Car - Built at NZR's Petone workshops on 24/3/1917
as composite 50ft car with seating for 15 X 1st-class & 28 X 2nd-class.
Re-arranged slightly on 30/4/27 and again 21/7/34 as a result of
different types of 2nd class seats being fitted.
It was converted to full 2nd-c;ass car on 23/6/51. Written off from Auckland
31/3/58 - but converted to a Way & Works Car with a single man's cabin
at each end, and a tool store in the centre. Longitudinal seating by B.T.C.
approx 1976 as is today. This was purchased by Phil Wallis & later donated
to The Club
AF 1047 - Car-van - Built as A 1047 at Newmarket on 27/6/1908 with
longitudinal seating for 56 second-class passengers Reseated 25/4/36 to its
present type of seats for 40. Rebuilt as a car-van 15/9/39 with 28 seats. It
was renumbered AF 1047 at this stage. It was a rather odd re-build as it
was different to most other conversions in that the guard's van compart-
ment is smaller and the sliding doors hang outside the body - rather than
inside. To allow the doors to open fully, the window-sills are cut back for
a short distance. This would also mean that the 'usual' Guards lookouts
would not have been fitted. It was part of the Auckland Suburban fleet until
written-off on 9/10/76 when it was purchased by B.T.C.
Completely upgraded to passenger carrying standard year 2000. This work
took 12 months to complete.
A 998 - Bunk car - Built 18/12/1907 at Petone as a composite 1st class -
seating 14 also 28 2nd class passengers. The second-class seats were the
usual longitudinal seats of the time.
It was reseated to 14 seats 1st-class and 20 seats 2nd-class (the same as
our car-van seats). It was reseated 10/12/49 to an all 2nd-class car.
Its last work area was Wanganui where it was written off 16/6/62 and then
transferred to a 'Works carriage EA 3638' and rebuilt with a single mans
cabin at each end - and a tool store in the centre.
At some stage it made its way to The Waikato and purchased by L Bodle
in October 1976, he later donated this to The Club, and it is used today
as accommodation for Club Members.
Due for upgrade year 2004
AA 1489 - Built 1924 Passenger carrying rolling stock (to be restored- currently
not used as passenger carrying).
Jigger - petrol driven
Various Wagons
Track,
YB Wagons X 2, (one currently being overhauled, new springs etc)
Logging bogies - undergoing restoration
Steam boilers - stored only
Stationary steam engines - stored only
5 tom hand crane - fully restored and operational
7 ton steam crane - partly restored
10 ton steam crane - needs restoring
