Cars - General Information – 1846 to 2014
© Juliet Scoble – Wellington, 12/2014
JRS/489
List of Contents
1 Advertising in Cars
2 Allocation of Cars
3 Alterations to Cars
4 Cars for Accommodation Huts
5 Car Bogies
6 Christchurch – Lyttelton Trains
7 Circus Train Cars
8 Condemned Cars
9 Correspondence Registers –
Information from
10 Couplings
11 Covered Gangways
12 Cushion Seats in Second Class
13 Door Handles
14 Emergency Braking
15 First Class, Abolition of
16 Car Floors
17 Chalk Marks on Cars
18 Four Compartment Cars
19 Gangways
20 Gates on Platforms
21 Gisborne Section Cars
22 Gore to Kingston Trains
23 Cars Used as Vans
24 Gutters on Cars
25 Handrails
26 Heating of AF Cars
27 Hire of Cars
28 Hospital Cars
29 Identity Discs
30 Janney Yoke Drawgear
31 Car Lavatories
32 Car Lighting - Electric
32A Pintsch Gas & Other Lighting
33 Car Markings
34 Otahuhu Workshops Trains
35 Painting & Lettering Cars
36 Picton Section Cars
37 Platform Alterations
38 Postal Cars
39 Public Works Department Cars
40 Refreshment Cars
41 Car Roofs
42 Rewanui Branch Trains
43 Running Restrictions
44 Car Seats
45 Smoking in Cars
46 Cars Sold
47 Special Cars
48 Steam Heating
49 Strengthened Ends
50 Car Ceilings
51 Turning Cars
52 Wanganui Section Cars
53 Ladies Cars
54 Westport Section Cars
55 Whangarei Section Cars
56 Car Windows
57 World War Two Emergency Cars
58 Auckland Railways
59 Canterbury Railways
60 Invercargill Railways
61 Otago Railways
62 Wellington Section
63 New Cars
64 Transfer of Cars
65 Wheels of Cars
66 Classified Railway Expenditure – Public Works Department
67 Proposed Reclassifications of Cars
68 Daylight Limited Express
69 Covered Gangways, Anti-Collision Ends, and Automatic Couplers
70 Kingston Flyer Train.
71 Westinghouse Brake
72 Sleeping Cars
73 Named Trains
74 Number and Class Plates
75 Footwarmers
76 Car Uses
77 Suburban Cars
78 Painting & Lettering Cars
79 Smoking Accommodation on Trains
80 Christchurch – Lyttelton Trains
81 Withdrawal of Passenger Accommodation
82 Passenger services
83 Last run of Northerner service
84 Rawlings Half-Drop Windows
85 Curtains on Vestibule Doors in Northerner Cars
86 Improved Seating in Cars
87 Royal Tours
88 Capital Cost of Electric Lighting Cars
List of Contents (Continued)
89 Capital Cost of Strengthened Ends in Cars
90 Car Uses
91 Capital Cost of Cars – 31 March, 1936
92 Car Details – All Sections – 1897
93 Car Painting Specifications – 1907
94 Car Seats
95 Advertising in Cars
96 Cleaning Car Windows
97 Undergear of Cars
98 Elevated Roof Cars on Rimutaka Incline
99 Towel Rollers
100 Notice Plates
101 Car Painting & Varnishing
102 Lavatory Cars
103 Gangways & Handrails
104 Colour Schemes of Cars
105 Mat Substitute
106 Proposed 60'-0” Cars
107 Weight of Cars
108 Precautions Against Wind, Wairarapa
109 North Island Car Stock 1932
111 Withdrawal of Dining Cars
112 Cars at Timaru and Vicinity
113 Cars not Permitted over Rimutaka Incline
114 Cars Sold
115 Steam Heating)
116 Dunedin Suburban Cars
117 Christchurch Expresses
118 Pintsch Gas & Other Lighting
119 Car Lighting – Electric
120 Not used
121 Passenger Car Stock Position
122 Wellington District Car Stock
123 Reseating of Cars
124 Christchurch District Services
125 Capacity of Wellington Suburban
Cars
126 Reservation of Seats
127 Blinds
128 Map Frames in Cars
129 SKF Roller Bearing Bogies
130 Window Alterations
131 Door Alterations
132 Postal Cars
133 Lighting Equipment
134 Alterations to Brake Gear
135 Ventilators
136 Lavatory Compartments
137 Birdcage Cars
138 Ashtrays for Cars
139 Front Board of Fixed End Seats
140 Old Cars at Greymouth
141 Car Stock 1986
142 Heating of Cars
143 Side & Tail Lamp Brackets
144 Emergency Brake Valves
145 Handrails
146 Covered Gangways, Anti-Collision Ends, and Automatic Couplers
147 Platform Grills
148 Allocation of Suburban Cars 1969
149 Standard Equipment for Car-Vans
150 Suburban Train Consists
151 Number of Cars 1967
152 Wooden Cars with Strengthened Ends
153 [Not used]
154 Protective Under-Floor Sheathing
155 Altering Truss Rods to Clear Centre Rail Gauge
156 Cars Awaiting Repairs at Wellington
157 Conveyance of Workmen
158 Car Roofs
159 Lettering, etc, Cars
160 Weight of Cars
161 Maintenance of Car Stock
162 Auckland Cars, 1955
163 Seating in Suburban Cars
164 Express Train Consists, Easter Holidays, 1970
165 Christchurch – Dunedin – Invercargill Expresses
166 Rewanui Passenger Services
167 Coal Gas Lighting
168 Cleaning of Cars
169 Suburban Trains
170 Stations at Which Spare Cars are Held
171 Car Lavatories & Water Supply
172 South Island Car Stock
173 North Island Car Stock
174 Car Details, 1908
175 Pintch's Gas – Instructions for Use, 1908
176 Cost of Car Windows, 1908
177 Car Orders from England, 1873 to 1876
179 Wanganui Cars
180 Wellington Section Car Restrictions
181 Sale of Cars, 1984
182 Excursion & Other Trains
183 Kingston Flyer Train
184 Luminious Paint for Car Interior
1 Advertising in Cars
11/1907 Addington Workshops – Coloured views of New Zealand – Recommending pictures be of the same sized used in cars, viz 12 inches by 10 inches, and the following be supplied:
18 – 12 inches by 10 inches pictures and greatest length vertical.
14 – 12 inches by 10 inches pictures and greatest length horizontal.
24/1/1940 Approval for the removal of racks in cars for publicity folder and pamphlets to be removed in secondary cars only.
29/8/1961 Proposal to replace the standard 10 inch by 18 inch framed and glazed advertisements inn cars with the multiple unit type panel (in suburban cars only).
26/8/1980 No contracts are to be renewed, or new ones entered into, for advertising in multiple unit stock. The Department should not continue to advertise in newly overhauled units, and will not have advertising in the new Hungarian units. Such advertising does not in any way improve the general appearance of the interior, and in fact such notices tend to attract vandalism which then spreads to other fittings.
21/11/1984 In the past the Department has advertised its Railway travel services extensively on the inside of the old red Wellington suburban units.
For reason of décor and to gauge public re-action, it has not been done so on any scale with the new Ganz Mavag units. However, the Department did place panels experimentally in one unit (EM 1004 and ET 3004) and after a trial period with no adverse comment, now intends going ahead and developing a number of high standard panels advertising the Department's services. These will begin to appear in the new units over the next few months.
2 Allocation of Cars
On 19 September, 1902, arrangements were being made to transfer to Auckland two class A cars from Wellington and two from Lyttelton. The Wellington cars will be withdrawn from traffic and will be shipped on the 22nd instant. Those from Lyttelton have not yet been in service and will be shipped in about ten days.
On 14 April,1925, instructions were issued for the following cars are to be re-allocated from Wanganui to Wellington:
A 166, 301, 341, 346, 375, 404, 492, 532, 575, 826, 1113, 1127
B 321, 367, 418
In July, 1935, Westland (WL) became a separate allocation, previously coming under Christchurch. The following cars are now to have the “WL” allocation:
A 112, 117, 161, 209, 214, 238, 239, 256, 269, 270, 295, 416, 420, 525, 585, 586, 682, 696, 697, 789, 790, 859, 958, 959, 1051, 1052, 1153, 1154, 1187, 1188, 1346, 1347, 1513, 1517, 1519, 1550, 1635, 1638, 1820, and 1821.
In July, 1935, Ohakune ceased being a separate district. The cars will be reallocated as follows:
To Auckland A 26, 369, 468, 508, 509, 577, 747, 753, 756, 757, 786, 916, 917, 1042, 1476, 1477, 1817, 1818.
2 Allocation of Cars Continued)
To Wanganui A 556, 568, 594, 724, 742, 745, 746, 787, 810, 811, 815, 915, 927, 962, 1044, 1045, 1218, 1219, 1336, 1340.
B 364.
On 25 June, 1926, nineteen cars of the Wellington District, had been re-allocated from the Middle District but were still under the control of the Stationmaster, Taumarunui. They are:
A 26, 369, 468, 508, 509, 577, 747, 753, 756, 757, 786, 914, 917, 961, 1042, 1476, 1477, 1817, 1818.
In March, 1951, instructions were given for the Auckland cars used at Ohakune to be used on local and light suburban trains at Auckland.
Cars Nos A 508, 509, 577, 747, 753, 754, 756, 757, 786, 916, 917, 961.
3 Alterations to Cars
22/11/1884 As to putting guard irons in gangways of 4-compartment cars.
5/3/1885 General Manager and Minister – Fitting up a bed for occasional use, in each of two cars, Hurunui Bluff Section, Ministers' desire.
21/11/1887 Postmaster General – Suggesting special mail vans be built exclusively for Post Office work.
19/1/1888 Napier – Requesting authority to convert two first class cars to composites.
2/8/1888 Conversion of 6-wheeled cars on the Wanganui Section into 4 compartment bogie.
5/3/1890 Agent General, London – Information re: Lurcrusta Walton for railway car decorative purposes.
13/3/1908 Fitting end doors of cars with springs.
31/3/1928 Alterations to car during year ending 31 March, 1928:
Petone
4 cars – remove 10 inch sets of Westinghouse brake gear and substitute 8 inch sets
1 car – alter sleeping car for use of HRH The Duke of York
2 cars – convert back to smoking
1 car – kitchen car altered back to first class
1 car – first class car altered back to second class
50 cars – extra truss rods
58 cars – standard door locks
1 car – double lavatory
9 cars – copper cars fitted with antique
4 cars – end cupboards to Ladies Cars
2 cars – spittoons removed
Hillside
1 car – altered for Farmers' Train
2 cars – converted after Royal Visit
10 cars – toplights made fixtures
3 Alterations to Cars (Continued)
4 cars – anti-rattlers fitted to windows
3 cars – standard ventilators fitted
21 cars – steam heat fitted
4 cars – flat “E” type axleboxes fitted
17 cars – spittoons removed
4 cars – bars fitted to lavatory windows
Newmarket
20 cars – fit fanlights and alter smoke excluders
? cars - fit Edwards anti -rattlers to sashes (no record kept of quantity)
2 cars - “Lincrista” ceiling replaced by box ply
19 cars – remove spittoons
1 car – fit lamp brackets on 20 second class cars
5 cars – fit 10 inch Westinghouse Brake cylinders on main line and main trunk cars
1 car – fit electric light to “Sentinel” rail car, and alterations
Addington
20 cars – alter ventilators
5 cars – tiles fitted to lavatories
6 cars – alter ceilings
31 cars – facings rounded at windows
12 cars – remove spittoons
16 cars – gutter moulding removed
24/8/1987 Instructions to Addington Workshops to refurbish three cars for the Greymouth service. To be fitted with carpets and curtains.
3/11/1987 The three refurbished cars for the Greymouth service will be passed out of Addington Workshops by 20/11/1987.
4 Cars for Accommodation Huts
10/5/1956 The District Engineer, Auckland, desires to utilise a number of old car bodies for a gang at Otahuhu. He is holding the following cars, formerly used on Wirth's Circus train, at his depot at Otahuhu in anticipation of authority to utilise them as accommodation huts:
A 286, 296, 492, 537, 552, 802, 803, 846.
In the meantime the Signals Section desires to utilise A 296 for approximately one month as a travelling hut to accommodate a gang where no hotel is available on the Main Trunk.
15/4/1956 Approval given for the above. A 296 will not be reclassified EA.
5 Car Bogies
1931 In 1931, instructions were issued to Otahuhu Workshops for the building of 44 SKF bogies for the 56 foot sleeping cars and the 50 foot first and second class Main Trunk cars.
29/7/1941 Instructions issued to Otahuhu Workshops to exchange bogies BP 4274 at present under seven cars with semi-wood underframes (List A) for bogies BP 2794 now under 47½ foot suburban cars with steel underframes (List B).
5 Car Bogies (Continued)
List A – A 546, 742, 743, 751, 842, 846, 914.
List B – A 208, 307, 1189 to 1192, 1205.
19/5/1989 There are three distinct “batches” of BP x28020 bogies in service.
- 90 bought new for use under cars (1970 to 1974)
- 176 (plus spares) made in Japan by NSSK for first group of FM vans (1975)
- 100 (plus spares) made in Korea by Daewoo for the second group of FM vans (1981)
6 Christchurch – Lyttelton Trains
24/9/1903 The Lyttelton service is not equipped with the Westinghouse Brake.
2/5/1904 The Lyttelton service has now been fitted with the Westinghouse Brake.
9/1931 The following cars, low roof types, are no longer used on the Lyttelton service:
A 18, 62, 126, 147, 148, 186, 190, 202, 268
9/1941 The following cars are used on the Christchurch – Lyttelton workers' train:
First class, suburban A 1438, 1439
Second class suburban A 1436, 1437, 1440, 1441, 1442
Second class, bench seats A 37, 233, 254, 514, 698, 699, 701, 934
2/3/1951 The following cars (all gas lit) are used on the Christchurch – Lyttelton ferry trains:
39½' semi-birdcage cars A 114, 494
47½' end lavatory one compartment cars A 862, 896, 897, 945, 947
12/2/1973 The stock permanently allocated to the Christchurch – Lyttelton services consists of the following cars:
56'-0” second class, 52 seats A 1985, 1989, 1995, 2005
50'-0” second class, 34 seats A 1693
Each of the above vehicles is fitted with a “SKOPE” electric storage heater, but for reasons of safety, these heaters are at present disconnected pending completion of investigations into their replacement by alternative heaters.
All these cars are in urgent need of refurbishing and / or renovation. Four of the cars were shopped at Addington on 7 February. The work includes the removal of steam heating equipment. The fifth car (A 2005) is being dealt with at Christchurch Car and Wagon Depot, work commencing on 7 February (this car was in better condition than the rest).