A busy day at Lyttelton on 5 June 2026. DXB 5448 and DXB 5143 ease an empty coal train out of the port, on the first stage of its journey to Ngakawau. DM 8087 and DM 8070 have just been unloaded from a ship from Spain, and DXC 5366 and DXC 5166 are about to tow the new locomotives to Middleton to be prepared to enter service. Photograph Glen Anthony

Two Small Boys Remember – Pat O’Faherty and Robert Hope

Sequel: Derailments on the Main North Line – Bill Prebble

A Most Comfortable and Easy Travelling Vehicle – The Origins of Auckland’s H-Type Trams – Bruce Gamble

Waltham Mechanical Hub – Graeme Carter

Railway Memories from the ‘Thirties’ – Wallace Sutherland

Research Notes #248 – Whangarata, Another Vanished Railway Station – Graeme McClare

Stan Hollow and the Hyde Railway Disaster – Grant Craig

Ray Cliff – Schoolboy Photographer – Bill Prebble

From the Top of the Raurimu Spiral, Down at the Station, Book Reviews

There are 21 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