NZR RM class (MacEwan-Pratt)
Encyclopedia
The NZR RM class
MacEwan-Pratt petrol railcar was the first railcar
to run on New Zealand
's national rail network
, though it was never used in revenue service. It was built in 1912 at a time when the New Zealand Railways Department
(NZR) was seeking alternative methods of providing rural passenger transportation. "Mixed" trains
that carried both passengers and freight were typical on country branch line
s as there was not sufficient traffic to justify a separate passenger train, but the schedule delays caused by loading and unloading freight during the journey made the mixed trains undesirable. Accordingly, NZR began investigating whether railcars could provide a more efficient passenger service with low operating costs. At the time, railcar technology was new, and the rugged nature of New Zealand's terrain made the task of finding a successful design more difficult.
The railcar's four-cylinder petrol engine and running gear were supplied by the English
company MacEwan-Pratt and a 4.87 metre long wooden body that resembled a tram of that era was built by the Railways Department's Newmarket Workshops
. The engine was located in the middle of the railcar with transmission provided by chain drive to just one of the two axles. A total of twelve people could be seated in the gas-illuminated passenger compartment, and driver's controls were at just one end despite the tram resemblance. On a trial run between Frankton
and Putaruru
in early 1913, it reached a speed of 50 km/h, at the time a fast speed for a rural line in New Zealand. Unfortunately it then broke down, and after attempts to fix it proved fruitless, research in different directions was undertaken. NZR dismantled it in May 1913.
NZR RM class
The RM class is the classification used by the New Zealand Railways Department and its successors given to most railcars and railbuses that have operated on New Zealand's national rail network. As NZR and its successors has operated many diverse types of railcars, alternate names have been given...
MacEwan-Pratt petrol railcar was the first 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...
to run on New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
, though it was never used in revenue service. It was built in 1912 at a time when the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
(NZR) was seeking alternative methods of providing rural passenger transportation. "Mixed" trains
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
that carried both passengers and freight were typical on country branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
s as there was not sufficient traffic to justify a separate passenger train, but the schedule delays caused by loading and unloading freight during the journey made the mixed trains undesirable. Accordingly, NZR began investigating whether railcars could provide a more efficient passenger service with low operating costs. At the time, railcar technology was new, and the rugged nature of New Zealand's terrain made the task of finding a successful design more difficult.
The railcar's four-cylinder petrol engine and running gear were supplied by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
company MacEwan-Pratt and a 4.87 metre long wooden body that resembled a tram of that era was built by the Railways Department's Newmarket Workshops
Newmarket Workshops
Newmarket Workshops in Auckland was a major New Zealand Railways Department facility, one of 13 workshops nationwide. It was one of two main railway workshops of Auckland, used mainly for maintenance; the older facility at Newmarket was replaced in 1929 by Otahuhu Workshops.- First Workshops :The...
. The engine was located in the middle of the railcar with transmission provided by chain drive to just one of the two axles. A total of twelve people could be seated in the gas-illuminated passenger compartment, and driver's controls were at just one end despite the tram resemblance. On a trial run between Frankton
Frankton, Waikato
Frankton is a central suburb of the city of Hamilton, New Zealand. It is the site of the city's passenger railway station, a major industrial-commercial stretch of State Highway 1, and a commercial shopping area.- Tornado :...
and Putaruru
Putaruru
Putaruru is a small town in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on the Oraka River 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton....
in early 1913, it reached a speed of 50 km/h, at the time a fast speed for a rural line in New Zealand. Unfortunately it then broke down, and after attempts to fix it proved fruitless, research in different directions was undertaken. NZR dismantled it in May 1913.