Ellis and Burnand Tramway, Ongarue

Ellis & Burnand Tramway
Two A & G Price locomotives on the spiral
Route
Technical
Line length37 kilometres (23 mi)
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map

Legend
km
46
Terminus clearing
59
Camp No 11
65
Camp No 10
68
Waikoura Bridge
69
Mangatukutuku Bridge
70
Goat Creek
73
 Bruntons
74
 Ongarue Spiral
78
 Mangakahu Stream
82
Bennet Road
85
Ongarue[1]

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.[2][3]

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.[2]

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.[2][4]

Wheels Type Manufacturer Number Year Condition Owner Usage
0-4-4-0BT Climax Manufacturing Co. #1650 1924 Stored Bush Tramway Club 1924-1960[5]
0-4-4-0BT Heisler/Stearns #1082 1904 Overhaul Bush Tramway Club 1947-1966[5]
0-4-4-4-4-0T A & G Price Matilda 1912 Out of service 1923-1951[6]
0-4-4-4-4-0T A & G Price Martha 1912 Out of service 1923-1926[6]
0-4-4-0BT B Climax Manufacturing Co. #1203 1913 Stored West Coast Historical & Me-
chanical Society, Shantytown		 1953-1963[5]
0-4-4-0T E A & G Price #111 1923 Overhaul Bush Tramway Club 1944-1958[5]
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.[7]

  • Managers' Chevrolet jigger on a bridge over a gorge near the mill
    Managers' Chevrolet jigger on a bridge over a gorge near the mill
  • Climax locomotive hauling logs over the Mangatukutuku Viaduct
    Climax locomotive hauling logs over the Mangatukutuku Viaduct
  • Today's timber trail in the curved tunnel of the Ongarue Spiral
    Today's timber trail in the curved tunnel of the Ongarue Spiral

See also

References

  1. ^ Map 2 in Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (R103627). or Timber Trail: Pureora – Ongarue Trail guide (2017).
  2. ^ a b c Central North Island Rail Trail — New Zealand.
  3. ^ Ken Anderson: Sparse Timber Sawmillers: Ellis & Burnand Ltd Sawmillers and Timber Merchants Ongarue. Archived 28 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine Taumarunui & Districts Histori, 2012, ISBN 9780958298483.
  4. ^ A & G Price Ltd., Thames. Geared Steam Locomotives.
  5. ^ a b c d David Maciulaitis: New Zealand Rolling Stock Register: Industrial Steam Locomotives Register.
  6. ^ a b New Zealand Geared Locomotives. Locomotive Owners: A & G Price Ltd., Thames.
  7. ^ Historic Ongarue Tramway and Spiral.
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38°42′25″S 175°21′54″E / 38.70691°S 175.36502°E / -38.70691; 175.36502 (Ongarue Spiral)