Ocean Beach Railway
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The Ocean Beach Railway (OBR) is a heritage railway that operates in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located on , John Wilson Drive in the suburb of St Kilda. This is near where the Ocean Beach Branch once ran. The OBR can claim two notable distinctions. The first is that it was the first operating heritage railway in New Zealand, with the first train running in 1963. The second is that it possesses A 67, a member of the 0-4-0 A class of 1873 built by Dübs & Co., and it is currently the oldest operational locomotive in New Zealand. For a location map click here
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[edit] Locomotives
The Ocean Beach Railway possesses both steam and diesel locomotives (in brackets is the year the engine was built):
Steam
- A 67 (1873)
- D 6 (1880)
- F 111 (1879)
- Kerr Stuart 4185 (1929)
Diesel
- DS 203 (1954)
- DSA 252 (1954)
- TR 81 (1939)
A 67 participated in the Dunedin Railway Station's centennial celebrations and led a cavalcade of locomotives.
F 111 is currently inoperable as its boiler has been condemned and scrapped, and a replacement has not yet been found or made.
D 6 is currently unrestored and in storage.
DSA 252 is on loan from private use at a freezing works; it had previously been used for shunting purposes at the freezing works but had fallen into disuse and was loaned to the OBR with an agreement allowing the engine to be transferred back to the freezing works should it be required again.
TR 81 was originally imported for the Ohai Railway Board. It is similar to the Drewry TR's imported by NZR at the same time. TR 81 was later bought by the NZR and used in various locations around the country.
The Kerr Stuart has just recently been returned to service.
The OBR also possesses numerous historic passenger carriages, an assortment of freight wagons, and a hand crane. The restoration work on the crane earned the OBR a Rolling Stock Award from the National Federation of Rail Societies.
[edit] Operation
The Ocean Beach Railway has traditionally operated a summer schedule with services every Sunday. In 2006, the OBR commenced operating a reduced winter schedule, featuring services on the last Sunday of every month.The society also runs a popular 'Friends of Thomas' weekend once a year. Faces are placed on engines in the Thomas the Tank engine style. Trains are operated by a mix of steam and diesel locomotives. Currently A67, the Kerr Stuart and DSA 252 are used. Most restoration work takes place on Saturdays and visitors are welcome to view the workshops and restoration work in progress. For a video of the operation click here
[edit] References
- ^ History - The Story of the Ocean Beach Railway
- ^ Vehicles - Steam locomotive A 67
- ^ Dunedin Railway Station - Rolling Stock Display Page 1
- ^ F 111
- ^ D 6
- ^ OBR's [www.obr.org.nz/news/news_02_08_2005.html November/December 2004 news update] and January/February 2005 news update
- ^ Vehicles - Hand Crane 287
- ^ OBR News - Winter Operation Announced
