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Pleasant Point Museum and Railway

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Coordinates: 44°15′40″S 171°07′52″E / 44.2612°S 171.1312°E / -44.2612; 171.1312
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Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society
LocalePleasant Point, Canterbury, New Zealand
TerminusPleasant Point
Coordinates44°15′40″S 171°07′52″E / 44.2612°S 171.1312°E / -44.2612; 171.1312
Commercial operations
NameFormerly part of the Fairlie Branch
Built byNew Zealand Government Railways
Original gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Preserved operations
Operated byPleasant Point Railway and Historical Society
StationsTwo
Length2.5 km (1.6 mi)
Preserved gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Commercial history
Opened24 December 1875
Closed2 March 1968
Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society Yard

The Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society is a heritage railway located in the small country town of Pleasant Point in southern Canterbury, New Zealand, inland from Timaru.

History

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Main article: Fairlie Branch

Its main terminal is located at Pleasant Point Station, which was an important stop on the Fairlie branch railway. For just over a year from 24 December 1875, Pleasant Point was actually the terminus of the line as construction further inland proceeded, and upon completion of the line, it functioned as a typical country station until closure of the Fairlie Branch came on 2 March 1968.[1] After the line closed, a historical society was formed with the aim of preserving Pleasant Point station, as the original building from 1875 still stood, with the addition of a 1930s booking office. The society ultimately managed to preserve the station, yard, and roughly 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) of track.[2] The line runs between Pleasant Point station south-east to Keane's Crossing station.

Motive Power

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Motive power at the Pleasant Point Railway includes:

The Model T Ford railcar is a replica of an experimental railcar built in 1925 and scrapped in the 1930s. It is a significant rarity - one other replica of a Model T Ford railcar exists in the United States but it was built to different specifications. The unique nature of the railcar has enhanced the popularity of the Railway and it runs multiple trips on operating days. Trains run during the summer and at other holiday periods. Rolling stock includes New Zealand's only "half birdcage" passenger carriage, which dates from 1895. The ex-NZR locomotives, AB 699, D 16, and TR 18 (TMS TR 62) are all regularly operated.

The Museum includes historic railway memorabilia and vintage computers, and the society also operates an Old Time Movie Theatre.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Leitch & Scott 1995, p. 77-78.
  2. ^ Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 217.

Bibliography

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  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
  • Leitch, David; Scott, Brian (1995). Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways (1998 ed.). Wellington: Grantham House. ISBN 1-86934048-5.
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{{subst:RMassist|Pleasant Point Museum and Railway|Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society|reason=New name is proper name for the railway, Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is the branding name, Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society is the legal and trading name}}

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