Historic Locomotive For Project At Ferrymead

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 9

Historic Locomotive For Project At Ferrymead

TIMARU, June 26. A recommendation that the Timaru Harbour Board’s locomotive WD357, the last of 104 Baldwins and the most historic and valuable locomotive existing in New Zealand, be given to the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (Inc.) for preservation and display at its Ferrymead project, was adopted at the monthly meeting of the board.

The secretary-manager (Mr N. de V. Lawrence) said that four proposals had been received. The Canterbury branch of the N.Z.R. and L. Society said it was intended to develop the Ferrymead site in conjunction with the Heathcote County Council and the Christchurch Jaycee chapters. The sponsors already had the rails, and it was proposed to restore the engine to its original appearance and to good running order. The 357 ran on the Lyttel-ton-Christchurch line between 1901 and 1908. For a period, engines built in America constituted an important part of New Zealand’s motive power, and the engine was the last of Baldwin workmanship supplied to New Zealand Railways. Other Proposals Other proposals were made by the New Zealand Railway Preservation Society, Auckland, which said that a Fairlie ex-N.Z.R. R class engine was approaching the last stages of decay in a park at Reefton, and that it would not like to see “this sad story” repeated in the case of No. 357; by Mr A. C. R._Wigley, who sought to preserve the engine as a major item of interest in Waimate; and by Mr S. R. Bennett, .who expressed the desire to place the locomotive on Caroline Bay. Mr Lawrence said there were many railway enthusiasts throughout New Zealand who wished to see the WD357 preserved. Auckland and Christchurch could draw on many hundreds of such enthusiasts. Both centres had | railway workshops with a i large staff which supported 1 the activities of the societies, said Mr Lawrence. However, as the engine had a historical link with Ferrymead, he recommended that it be given to the Canterbury branch of the Railway and Locomotive Society. Exciting Period

The New Zealand Railway Preservation Society said that Baldwin power was recommembered as a highlight of one of the most exciting periods in the history of railways in New Zealand. Many a tale was still told of highwheeted Baldwin-built ÜB's dashing across the Canterbury Plains, and such was the quality and excellence of Baldwin locomotives that the famous Wellington and Mana-

watu Railway Company built its entire main line fleet'of them. Baldwin-constructed locomotives survived on New Zealand railways iintit 1957, when the last Q class, the only remaining representative of the first Pacific type (4-6-2 wheel arrangement), a type since widely used throughout the world, was scrapped. “The WD357 must be preserved as a steam locomotive, not as a lifeless and useless exhibit which will deteriorate quickly and become nothing more than an eyesore,” the letter from the society added. “We have applied to the New Zealand Railways for permission to run our locomotives on their lines, and it is hoped to bring the matter before Parliament later this year,” the society said. The annual general meeting of the society decided in favour of the preservation of WD357. With this in mind, it had declined an historic F class engine, which had now gone to a museum for static preservation, said the letter. It was planned to establish the society’s major workshop facilities and own private line in the Auckland area, the Railway Preservation Society said.