Blenheim Riverside Railway

2009-11-28T22:24:33Z

FetchcommsAWB: Typo fixing, typos fixed: offically → officially, enbankment → embankment using AWB

The '''Blenheim Riverside Railway''' ('''BRRS''' or '''BRR''' for short) is a [[narrow gauge railway|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.

[[Image:BRR train at Beaver Station.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Train at the lower terminus with the Price locomotive]]

==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 onwards with parts from the [[Lake Grassmere]] salt collection railway, and the [[A & G Price]] locomotive was restored from a rundown condition. Also in 1989 the line was finished to Fulton Station from Chinaman's Creek Crossing, reaching the 4.5 km mark. In 1990 the locomotive "Murray" was restored to operational condition. 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. The first station resembled a lemonade stall, and the platform was only sleepers laid next to the track. The railway officially opened in 1997. 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 2010 the Society celebrates 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 loop]]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, New Zealand|Main North Line]] Taylor River bridge.
===Coordinates of terminal stations===
*Brayshaw Park station: {{coord|-41.531551|173.939602|format=dms}}
*Beaver station: {{coord|-41.512|173.9599|format=dms}}

[[Image:Steam loco "Donald" boiler.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The original boiler of Donald]]

==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 [[railway tie|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 surveyed, crossing the Taylor River by means of culvert and along to the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka Airfield. The first and second point for this is in and the next one (to make a [[Wye (rail)|wye]]) are not far off.

== Locomotives ==
[[Image:BRRS Murray loco.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Murray locomotive]]
[[Image:BRRS Price loco.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Price Locomotive]]
[[Image:BRRS Price locomotive.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Price loco, other side view]]

The railway has two locomotives, an NZ-built [[A & G Price]] 6.5 tonne, 0-4-0 [[diesel-mechanical]] from the [[Ohai]] coal mine (one of three 2 ft gauge locos built). It is powered by a six-cylinder Leyland Comet engine with transmission through a 3-speed gearbox with chain drive to both axles (shortly an [[Isuzu]] diesel with automatic transmission will be put in).
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 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, New Zealand|Collingwood]]. Also a [[Railcar]] propelled by a 2.0L [[Toyota]] diesel (with automatic transmission powering the inner most axles of the bogies) made by a member of the Society is sometimes used. There is an interest in purchasing another loco, especially an ongoing search for the 3rd [[A & G Price]] high-cabbed loco believed to be buried somewhere at [[Ohai]].

==Rolling Stock==
The main passenger carriages (which there are four of) seat 24 people in 4-person bench seat configuration. They are all built to the same design except for carriage No. 4, which is the same except it has an underslung compartment for jacks etc. for assistance in a derailment or the like. All passenger rolling stock is fully air braked. In the track work-train there are typically the following wagons: a ballast wagon, two flat deck wagons , a tool wagon and a recently built braked staff car, rebuilt and re-gauged from a 3 ft 6 in jigger. There is a six man jigger, two man and a four man jigger, along with a hand trolley. Also a track sprayer wagon and a grass mower on railway wheels, bolster bogies capable of carrying a digger and also other storage wagons.

==Equipment/facilities==
The railway has a tractor and digger for any excavation work, with all track work being done by volunteers with handtools. The workshop has a pit, and small turntable for wagons/jiggers etc.

==External links==
* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=113618582274737089753.0004524231ca699343ea9 Google Map of the line]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo9y7c_-wL0 Youtube Video of the railway]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/brrs BRRS Main Website]
* [http://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/articles/blenheim_riverside_railway An overview of the railway]
* [http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/riverside_railway/ Discussion Yahoo group]
* [http://www.maciulaitis.com/nzrolling/narrow.html Locomotive info- ]1/2 way down page
* [http://www.maciulaitis.com/nzrolling/narrowwags.html List of wagons, carriages etc.]-3/4 down page

{{NZR Heritage}}

[[Category:Blenheim, New Zealand]]
[[Category:Rail transport in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Heritage railways in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Two foot gauge railways]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Blenheim, New Zealand]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Blenheim Riverside Railway