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The New Zealand Railway Observer : Issued Bi-monthly, ISSN 0028-8624
Issue 395, February – March 2026
Volume 82, No. 6

Contents

A street parade was held in Taumarunui on 8 November 1958 to commemorate the 50th Jubilee of the opening of the North Island Main Trunk. In the foreground is the NZR’s float, in the middle is WF386 on a plinth and in the background is KA947 on display. Not a hi-vis jacket or road cone in sight! Photograph Peter Mellor.

A Life Derailed – Mike Houlahan

Waikumete Cemetery by Train: In Loving Memory (Alison McKee)

Chain Hills Tunnel – Graeme Carter

Innovation in the Fundamentals of Rail – Murray King

North Island Main Trunk 50th Anniversary Celebrations

R28 It’s time with the Timaru Harbour Board – Mark Denne

Research Notes #245 – Melling, Another Station that Moved – Graeme McClare

A Sentinel Railcar in New Zealand – Tom McGavin

Hero or Villain? Charles Hursthouse and the NIMT – Rob Merrifield

From the Top of the Raurimu Spiral, Down at the Station, Letters to the Editor

There are 31 colour photos in this issue.

Click Image for full size

The New Zealand Railway Observer

The Railway Observer is for everyone who takes an interest in the railways and tramways of
New Zealand. Read about their fascinating present developments and past history.

We publish it:-

  • Six times a year for members of the Society and the public.
  • For everyone who takes an interest in the railways and tramways in New Zealand.
  • It is packed with information and pictures.
  • Design · Construction · Operation · Development · History
  • Mailed direct to Society members as part of the annual subscription.
  • Copies may also be purchased from the Society or ordered through your favourite hobby shop or bookshop.

Membership of the Society brings you:

  • Six issues of The New Zealand Railway Observer each year
  • The Society’s members’ newsletter “Turntable”
  • Special members’ prices for all Society publications
  • Opportunities to insert free private announcements in The New Zealand Railway Observer and Turntable
  • Opportunities to join your nearest Society Group for meetings and outings with other railfans.
  • Access to the Society’s archives of information on railways.

Contributions

Manuscripts

We welcome, for possible publication, contributed articles and notes, including photographs. Articles should not normally exceed about 4000 words, and should be supplied electronically in PC format accompanied by a hard-copy version. We will consider a modest rate of payment for material published – enquire for details. Neither the Editor nor the Society can undertake to return unsolicited contributions.

Photographs

Photographs should be supplied as clear, sharp, glossy black and white or colour prints not less than 10cm x 15cm in size; or, for full colour reproduction, clear, sharp colour slides or transparencies. Digital scans should be no less than 300 dpi, preferably sent on a memory stick. The Editor reserves the right to reproduce colour slides or transparencies in monochrome. Black and white and colour prints are retained by the Society, but colour slides and transparencies are returned after use.

For more information write to

New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society,
1A North Street, Petone
Lower Hutt, 5012, New Zealand.

Or send us an email at nzrls@actrix.co.nz