Summary
The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was from 1922 to 1958 a 37 kilometres (23 mi) long bush tramway near Ongarue in the central North Island of New Zealand with a gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm).
| Ellis & Burnand Tramway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Two A & G Price locomotives on the spiral
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| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 37 kilometres (23 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Route edit
The construction of the rail track started in 1922, after J. W. Ellis and Harry Burnand had built their timber mill at Ongarue in 1914.[2][3]
The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was well engineered with a spiral, a tunnel, two great trestle bridges and very impressive cuttings.
In 1955 the tramway was closed because of flood damage, followed by the mill closure in 1966.[2]
Locomotives edit
Geared steam locomotives Climax, Heisler/Stearns and A & G Price were used on the tramway. The Climax operated between the mill and the Waione camp siding while the A & G Price ran from there to the bush loading points.[2][4]
| Wheels | Type | Manufacturer | Number | Year | Condition | Owner | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4-4-0BT | Climax Manufacturing Co. | #1650 | 1924 | Stored | Bush Tramway Club | 1924-1960[5] | |
| 0-4-4-0BT | Heisler/Stearns | #1082 | 1904 | Overhaul | Bush Tramway Club | 1947-1966[5] | |
| 0-4-4-4-4-0T | A & G Price | Matilda | 1912 | Out of service | 1923-1951[6] | ||
| 0-4-4-4-4-0T | A & G Price | Martha | 1912 | Out of service | 1923-1926[6] | ||
| 0-4-4-0BT | B | Climax Manufacturing Co. | #1203 | 1913 | Stored | West Coast Historical & Me- chanical Society, Shantytown |
1953-1963[5] |
| 0-4-4-0T | E | A & G Price | #111 | 1923 | Overhaul | Bush Tramway Club | 1944-1958[5] |
| 4-2-0 | Chevrolet | Unknown |
Timber trail edit
The right of way of the tramway is now being used as the Timber Trail, which can be used on foot or bike.[7]
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Climax locomotive hauling logs over the Mangatukutuku Viaduct -
Today's timber trail in the curved tunnel of the Ongarue Spiral
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Map 2 in Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (R103627). or Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (2017).
- ^ a b c Central North Island Rail Trail — New Zealand.
- ^ Ken Anderson: Sparse Timber Sawmillers: Ellis & Burnand Ltd Sawmillers and Timber Merchants Ongarue. Taumarunui & Districts Histori, 2012, ISBN 9780958298483.
- ^ A & G Price Ltd., Thames. Geared Steam Locomotives.
- ^ a b c d David Maciulaitis: New Zealand Rolling Stock Register: Industrial Steam Locomotives Register.
- ^ a b New Zealand Geared Locomotives. Locomotive Owners: A & G Price Ltd., Thames.
- ^ Historic Ongarue Tramway and Spiral.
External links edit
- Wheel5800: Ongarue - the Great Ellis & Burnand Tramway. 29 modern photos on Flickr.
- Wheel5800: Ellis & Burnand Siding & Tramway Ongarue. 9 modern photos on Flickr.
38°42′25″S 175°21′54″E / 38.70691°S 175.36502°E