Blenheim Riverside Railway
Encyclopedia
The Blenheim Riverside Railway (BRRS or BRR for short) is a narrow gauge (24 inch) heritage railway
located in Blenheim, New Zealand
and runs down the Taylor River which winds its way through the middle of the town. It is operated by the all-volunteer Blenheim Riverside Railway Society.
salt collection railway, and the A & G Price
locomotive was restored and put into service. Also in 1989 the line was finished to Fulton Station from Chinaman's Creek Crossing, reaching the 4.5 km mark. The railway officially opened on Labour Weekend 1990. The first station resembled a lemonade stall, and the platform was only sleepers laid next to the track. In 1995 Beaver Station (as it was then known, now Brayshaw Station) was constructed, with an extension of track from the workshop requiring a cutting and embankment with a steep gradient. Previously, the railway was seen to have a negative impact on the park. In 1997 the locomotive "Murray" was restored to operational condition. In 2005 the track was extended to the current terminus at Riverside Park - where the railway was planned to go from the start. Over the years the workshops have been enlarged, and concrete sleepers made by the volunteer members have been used to replace wooden ones first used on the line. In September 2010 the Society celebrated its 25th anniversary.
s at both ends, as well as Chinaman's Creek Crossing, and Fulton Station, both being former termini of the line. The total route is roughly 5.5 km long. There are 6 bridges on the line but there are no tunnels, although the track passes underneath 5 road bridges. At Beaver Station the line passes under the Main North Line Taylor River bridge.
at Omaka Airfield. The first two turnouts are in place for the junction of the branch and the next one (to make a wye) is not far off.
The railway has two locomotives, A & G Price
No. 166, a 6.5 tonne, 0-4-0 diesel-mechanical from the Ohai
coal mines (only one of three built). During 2010 it was refurbished with a new engine and renamed 'George'. It is now powered by an Isuzu diesel with automatic transmission.
The other loco is a Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0,
5.5 tonne, diesel-mechanical named "Murray" (no. 170204) powered by a 3-cylinder Lister JP engine, which worked at the Milton Lime works. It was regauged from 2' 6" by the BRRS. Being restored is a 0-4-2 steam locomotive, 'Donald' from the Puponga Coal Mine in Puponga, near Collingwood
. Also a Railcar
propelled by a 2.0L Toyota diesel engine made by a member of the Society is sometimes used.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
located in Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
and runs down the Taylor River which winds its way through the middle of the town. It is operated by the all-volunteer Blenheim Riverside Railway Society.
History
The Railway was founded in 1985 by the Marlborough Historical Society, and two years later track laying commenced. In 1988 motor trolleys started running to Chinaman's Creek Crossing. Four carriages were built in 1989/90 with parts from the Lake GrassmereLake Grassmere
Lake Grassmere is close to Cook Strait in the northeastern South Island of New Zealand.- Geography :Lake Grassmere, south of Blenheim and south of the mouth of the Awatere River, is a shallow lagoon protected from the open sea by a single barrier beach covered by sand dunes...
salt collection railway, and the A & G Price
A & G Price
A & G Price Limited is an engineering firm and locomotive manufacturer in Thames, New Zealand, established in 1868. In 2004 a precision formed yacht keel division was formed to make the Maximus canting keel...
locomotive was restored and put into service. Also in 1989 the line was finished to Fulton Station from Chinaman's Creek Crossing, reaching the 4.5 km mark. The railway officially opened on Labour Weekend 1990. The first station resembled a lemonade stall, and the platform was only sleepers laid next to the track. In 1995 Beaver Station (as it was then known, now Brayshaw Station) was constructed, with an extension of track from the workshop requiring a cutting and embankment with a steep gradient. Previously, the railway was seen to have a negative impact on the park. In 1997 the locomotive "Murray" was restored to operational condition. In 2005 the track was extended to the current terminus at Riverside Park - where the railway was planned to go from the start. Over the years the workshops have been enlarged, and concrete sleepers made by the volunteer members have been used to replace wooden ones first used on the line. In September 2010 the Society celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Route
The railway line follows the Taylor River from Brayshaw Park in the southwest of Blenheim to Beaver Station (beside where the River Queen docks at Riverside Park). The track stays to the east side of the river until about halfway along the line, where it crosses the Taylor River for the rest of the route. There are passing loopPassing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s at both ends, as well as Chinaman's Creek Crossing, and Fulton Station, both being former termini of the line. The total route is roughly 5.5 km long. There are 6 bridges on the line but there are no tunnels, although the track passes underneath 5 road bridges. At Beaver Station the line passes under the Main North Line Taylor River bridge.
Coordinates of terminal stations
- Brayshaw Park station: 41.531551°N 173.939602°W
- Beaver station: 41.512°N 173.9599°W
Track
The track is made of mainly 55/56-pound-per-yard (27 kg/m) rail, on top of concrete sleepers that have been designed and made by members of the railway. Currently sections of 330 m track upgrades are in progress, replacing old wooden sleepers and also laying down new ballast. The whole track itself is buried in the soil, with only the railheads visible,as the route is on a floodway. This is also for looks as the area is used by the public as a park - the Taylor River Reserve.Omaka Branch extension
There is a 800 m (half-mile) extension currently being planned, crossing the Taylor River by means of culvert and along to the Omaka Aviation Heritage CentreOmaka Aviation Heritage Centre
The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre is an aviation museum located at the Omaka Air Field, from the centre of Blenheim, New Zealand.-History:...
at Omaka Airfield. The first two turnouts are in place for the junction of the branch and the next one (to make a wye) is not far off.
Locomotives
A & G Price
A & G Price Limited is an engineering firm and locomotive manufacturer in Thames, New Zealand, established in 1868. In 2004 a precision formed yacht keel division was formed to make the Maximus canting keel...
No. 166, a 6.5 tonne, 0-4-0 diesel-mechanical from the Ohai
Ohai
Ohаi is a town in the Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located 65 kilometres northwest of Invercargill and 25 kilometres west of Winton. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings gave its population as 399, a decline of 22.2% or 114 people since the 1996...
coal mines (only one of three built). During 2010 it was refurbished with a new engine and renamed 'George'. It is now powered by an Isuzu diesel with automatic transmission.
The other loco is a Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0,
5.5 tonne, diesel-mechanical named "Murray" (no. 170204) powered by a 3-cylinder Lister JP engine, which worked at the Milton Lime works. It was regauged from 2' 6" by the BRRS. Being restored is a 0-4-2 steam locomotive, 'Donald' from the Puponga Coal Mine in Puponga, near Collingwood
Collingwood, New Zealand
Collingwood is a town in the north-west corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located in the hub of the Aorere Valley, in the western half of the Golden Bay area.-Geography:The town lies at the end of State Highway 60 in Golden Bay...
. Also a Railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
propelled by a 2.0L Toyota diesel engine made by a member of the Society is sometimes used.