Ellis And Burnand Tramway, Ongarue
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The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was from 1922 to 1958 a 37 kilometres (23 mi) long bush tramway near Ongarue in the central North Island of New Zealand with a gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm).
Route
The construction of the rail track started in 1922, after J. W. Ellis and Harry Burnand had built their timber mill at Ongarue in 1914.
The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was well engineered with a spiral, a tunnel, two great trestle bridges and very impressive cuttings.
In 1955 the tramway was closed because of flood damage, followed by the mill closure in 1966.
Locomotives
Geared steam locomotives Climax, Heisler/Stearns and A & G Price were used on the tramway. The Climax operated between the mill and the Waione camp siding while the A & G Price ran from there to the bush loading points.
Wheels | Type | Manufacturer | Number | Year | Condition | Owner | Usage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-4-4-0BT | Climax Manufacturing Co. | #1650 | 1924 | Stored | Bush Tramway Club | 1924-1960 | |
0-4-4-0BT | Heisler/Stearns | #1082 | 1904 | Overhaul | Bush Tramway Club | 1947-1966 | |
0-4-4-4-4-0T | A & G Price | Matilda | 1912 | Out of service | 1923-1951 | ||
0-4-4-4-4-0T | A & G Price | Martha | 1912 | Out of service | 1923-1926 | ||
0-4-4-0BT | B | Climax Manufacturing Co. | #1203 | 1913 | Stored | West Coast Historical & Me- chanical Society, Shantytown |
1953-1963 |
0-4-4-0T | E | A & G Price | #111 | 1923 | Overhaul | Bush Tramway Club | 1944-1958 |
4-2-0 | Chevrolet | Unknown |
Timber trail
The right of way of the tramway is now being used as the Timber Trail, which can be used on foot or bike.
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Climax locomotive hauling logs over the Mangatukutuku Viaduct
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Today's timber trail in the curved tunnel of the Ongarue Spiral
See also
References
- ^ Map 2 in Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (R103627). or Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (2017).
- ^ Central North Island Rail Trail — New Zealand.
- ^ Ken Anderson: Sparse Timber Sawmillers: Ellis & Burnand Ltd Sawmillers and Timber Merchants Ongarue. Taumarunui & Districts Histori, 2012, ISBN 9780958298483.
- ^ A & G Price Ltd., Thames. Geared Steam Locomotives.
- ^ David Maciulaitis: New Zealand Rolling Stock Register: Industrial Steam Locomotives Register.
- ^ New Zealand Geared Locomotives. Locomotive Owners: A & G Price Ltd., Thames.
- ^ Historic Ongarue Tramway and Spiral.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Wheel5800: Ongarue - the Great Ellis & Burnand Tramway. 29 modern photos on Flickr.
- Wheel5800: Ellis & Burnand Siding & Tramway Ongarue. 9 modern photos on Flickr.