The Port Chalmers Branch was the first railway line built in Otago, New Zealand, and linked the region's major city of Dunedin with the port in Port Chalmers.[1] The line is still operational today.
Port Chalmers Branch
DSG class shunting locomotive hauling freight towards Port Chalmers in 2008.
Built by the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company Limited during 1872,[3] the line was approved by and constructed under the auspices of the Otago Provincial Council, not the central government. It was built to the recently adopted national track gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), and it was the first line in the country with that gauge to open, on 1 January 1873.[1] The line was formally opened by Sir George Bowen, former Governor of New Zealand, on a farewell trip prior to his transfer to Victoria.[4] Not long after opening, the central Government purchased the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company for £150,000, with the transaction completed in May 1873.[5] Otago Provincial Council was abolished along with the other provincial councils of New Zealand in 1876.
The first locomotive to run on the line – and the first 1,067 mm gauge locomotive to operate in New Zealand – was the E classJosephine, a double Fairliesteam locomotive.[6] Local popularity ensured the locomotive was retained beyond its retirement from service on in 1917 and is preserved today in the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin.[7]
Much of the Port Chalmers line is now part of the Main South Line from Christchurch to Dunedin. When the first section of the mainline, from Dunedin to Waitati, opened in December 1877 a junction was established at Sawyers Bay.[8] The section from Dunedin to Sawyers Bay became part of the Main South Line, while the remaining two kilometres to Port Chalmers became the Port Chalmers Branch. In 1880 the line was vested in the newly established New Zealand Railways Department, and the private company dissolved.
Operationedit
Passenger servicesedit
Suburban passenger services were run from Dunedin on the line for over 100 years, but ceased at the end of 1979.[1] These were usually locomotive-hauled carriage trains, but infrequently, RM classVulcanrailcars were used too. Occasional passenger services were operated by Dunedin Railways to meet cruise ships and carry tourists through the scenic Taieri Gorge on the preserved portion of the Otago Central Railway, but these services have been mothballed since mid-2020.
Freight servicesedit
The main reason for the lines existence is freight to and from the port, and as the shipping industry has changed, so has the traffic on the line. It has evolved from nineteenth century imports of supplies and exports of produce from rural Otago's farms and businesses into today's long-distance containerised freight. The line remains an important link in New Zealand's transport infrastructure and trains are operated by KiwiRail. The Taieri Gorge Railway recently sought a contract to haul logs from a location in the Taieri Gorge to Port Chalmers, but insufficient subsidies meant the venture would not have been cost efficient.[9] In 2012 KiwiRail once again sought subsidies from the Otago Regional Council to move logs through the port, noting that there were annually 450,000 tonnes of logs in the area south of Dunedin available for processing. The volume of logs equated to 15,000 truck movements inwards. For up to $1.5 million, connecting the site to the Main South Line would reduce truck movements by 7,500 each year, KiwiRail submitted.[10]
It estimated 400,000 tonnes of logs (about 13,000 log truck movements) were sent to Port Otago each year and better opportunities to transfer logs to and from rail could reduce truck traffic on State Highway 88 by up to 6500 movements annually. KiwiRail also noted it had increased its Otago operations, carrying 320,000 tonnes, up from 150,000 tonnes in 2010. This was mainly due to increases in freight dispatched by Fonterra from its Edendale and Mosgiel operations.[10]
Motive poweredit
Motive power has often been provided by shunting locomotives rather than larger mainline engines. At the start of the twentieth century, small tank locomotives such as members of the FA class were used.[11] However, in the 1960s, as diesel locomotives replaced steam locomotives on the main lines, large engines such as members of the AB class operated the suburban trains to Port Chalmers.[12]
^Otago Witness, 31 March 1898, "Chronological Index of the Settlement of Otago: 1873", accessed 13 October 2007.
^"DUNEDIN AND PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY, (CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF). APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1 JANUARY 1873".
^Eric Heath and Bob Stott, Classic Steam Locomotives of New Zealand (Wellington: Grantham House, 1993), 24.
^Weka Pass Railway, E 175 Josephine 23 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 12 June 2007.
Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN0-908876-20-3.
Hermann, Bruce J; South Island Branch Lines p 26 (1997, New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, Wellington) ISBN0-908573-70-7
Yonge, John (1985). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (Third ed.). Quail Map Company. ISBN090060932X.
External linksedit
Photo of locomotive Josephine at Dunedin
January 01, 1970
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The Port Chalmers Branch was the first railway line built in Otago New Zealand and linked the region s major city of Dunedin with the port in Port Chalmers 1 The line is still operational today Port Chalmers BranchDSG class shunting locomotive hauling freight towards Port Chalmers in 2008 OverviewOther name s Dunedin and Port Chalmers RailwayStatusOpenOwnerNew Zealand Railways Corporation land TerminiSawyers BayPort ChalmersServiceTypeUrban railOperator s KiwiRailHistoryOpened1 January 1873 1 Closed10 December 1979 for passenger trains 2 TechnicalLine length2 09 km 1 30 mi Sawyer s Bay Port Chalmers 2 Number of tracksSingleCharacterUrbanTrack gauge1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in Josephine at the Otago Settlers Museum Contents 1 Construction and early history 2 Operation 2 1 Passenger services 2 2 Freight services 2 3 Motive power 3 References 3 1 Citations 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksConstruction and early history editBuilt by the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company Limited during 1872 3 the line was approved by and constructed under the auspices of the Otago Provincial Council not the central government It was built to the recently adopted national track gauge of 1 067 mm 3 ft 6 in and it was the first line in the country with that gauge to open on 1 January 1873 1 The line was formally opened by Sir George Bowen former Governor of New Zealand on a farewell trip prior to his transfer to Victoria 4 Not long after opening the central Government purchased the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company for 150 000 with the transaction completed in May 1873 5 Otago Provincial Council was abolished along with the other provincial councils of New Zealand in 1876 The first locomotive to run on the line and the first 1 067 mm gauge locomotive to operate in New Zealand was the E class Josephine a double Fairlie steam locomotive 6 Local popularity ensured the locomotive was retained beyond its retirement from service on in 1917 and is preserved today in the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin 7 Much of the Port Chalmers line is now part of the Main South Line from Christchurch to Dunedin When the first section of the mainline from Dunedin to Waitati opened in December 1877 a junction was established at Sawyers Bay 8 The section from Dunedin to Sawyers Bay became part of the Main South Line while the remaining two kilometres to Port Chalmers became the Port Chalmers Branch In 1880 the line was vested in the newly established New Zealand Railways Department and the private company dissolved Operation editPassenger services edit Suburban passenger services were run from Dunedin on the line for over 100 years but ceased at the end of 1979 1 These were usually locomotive hauled carriage trains but infrequently RM class Vulcan railcars were used too Occasional passenger services were operated by Dunedin Railways to meet cruise ships and carry tourists through the scenic Taieri Gorge on the preserved portion of the Otago Central Railway but these services have been mothballed since mid 2020 Freight services edit The main reason for the lines existence is freight to and from the port and as the shipping industry has changed so has the traffic on the line It has evolved from nineteenth century imports of supplies and exports of produce from rural Otago s farms and businesses into today s long distance containerised freight The line remains an important link in New Zealand s transport infrastructure and trains are operated by KiwiRail The Taieri Gorge Railway recently sought a contract to haul logs from a location in the Taieri Gorge to Port Chalmers but insufficient subsidies meant the venture would not have been cost efficient 9 In 2012 KiwiRail once again sought subsidies from the Otago Regional Council to move logs through the port noting that there were annually 450 000 tonnes of logs in the area south of Dunedin available for processing The volume of logs equated to 15 000 truck movements inwards For up to 1 5 million connecting the site to the Main South Line would reduce truck movements by 7 500 each year KiwiRail submitted 10 It estimated 400 000 tonnes of logs about 13 000 log truck movements were sent to Port Otago each year and better opportunities to transfer logs to and from rail could reduce truck traffic on State Highway 88 by up to 6500 movements annually KiwiRail also noted it had increased its Otago operations carrying 320 000 tonnes up from 150 000 tonnes in 2010 This was mainly due to increases in freight dispatched by Fonterra from its Edendale and Mosgiel operations 10 Motive power edit Motive power has often been provided by shunting locomotives rather than larger mainline engines At the start of the twentieth century small tank locomotives such as members of the FA class were used 11 However in the 1960s as diesel locomotives replaced steam locomotives on the main lines large engines such as members of the AB class operated the suburban trains to Port Chalmers 12 References editCitations edit a b c d Churchman amp Hurst 2001 p 206 a b Yonge 1985 p 25 Brett 2016 p 217 Otago Witness 31 March 1898 Chronological Index of the Settlement of Otago 1873 accessed 13 October 2007 DUNEDIN AND PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE PURCHASE OF APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 JANUARY 1873 Eric Heath and Bob Stott Classic Steam Locomotives of New Zealand Wellington Grantham House 1993 24 Weka Pass Railway E 175 Josephine Archived 23 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine accessed 12 June 2007 Churchman amp Hurst 2001 p 180 Simon Hartley Costs Rule Out Rail in the Long Run Otago Daily Times 12 June 2007 a b KiwiRail seeksto freight logs by rail Otago Daily Times 15 May 2012 Retrieved 15 May 2012 Joe McNamara and Gordon Whiting Southland Locomotive Memories New Zealand Railway Observer April June 1958 59 David Leitch Steam Steel and Splendour Auckland HarperCollins 1994 129 30 Bibliography edit Brett Andre June 2016 Acknowledge No Frontier The Creation and Demise of New Zealand s Provinces 1853 76 Dunedin Otago University Press ISBN 978 1 927322 36 9 Churchman Geoffrey B Hurst Tony 2001 1990 1991 The Railways of New Zealand A Journey through History Second ed Transpress New Zealand ISBN 0 908876 20 3 Hermann Bruce J South Island Branch Lines p 26 1997 New Zealand Railway amp Locomotive Society Wellington ISBN 0 908573 70 7 Yonge John 1985 New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas Third ed Quail Map Company ISBN 090060932X External links editPhoto of locomotive Josephine at Dunedin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Port Chalmers Branch amp oldid 1186917034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
