Excellent video. A lot of research behind it. During my 50s-60s childhood my father was an engineer in NZR working on electric traction. Mostly Wellington, but also Christchurch-Lyttelton and Otira I remember him talking of interesting fault-finding challenges. We lived in central Wellington so I did not actually ride in the trains very much. You video fills in many gaps in my knowledge, and did not conflict with anything I had already heard. Fun fact: Wellington kept a ticketing system designed before computers until very recently and perhaps still. Pre-printed cardboard tickets to be clipped by a conductor.
Paper ticketing has been superseded quite recently and replaced by 'Snapper' cards. I think explorer tickets may still be available and limited on-board cash sales, so no more ticket sales from any stations. 'tag-on, tag-off' machines on all platforms now, including a small 'forest' of them at Wellington Station.
The main reason why the Johnsonville line remained after the Tawa flat deviation opened was because of the former massive Gear meatworks in the Ngauranga gorge. The livestock had to be transported by train up to a point along the line and then led downhill along a track. The meatworks was a massive employer until the early 1980s. But of course; the 1930s during the depression was not a time when very many people owned their own automobile. So there would continue to be suburban trains along the line. And of course converting to EMU operation was the logical progression. The DM/D were class. Roomy and solid and long-wearing. Yes they were getting long in the tooth by the 1980s but they had a character and charm about them that the next EM/ET class from the early 80s failed to continue.
DM556 is still in preservation at the Rimutaka Incline Railway. Although the motor and one trailer car are not in use and are sitting outside, one of the trailers are restored and run short shuttles to the end of the Maymorn yard and back, with the assistance of a Tr class shunter.
Great summary of DM class history. I have a lot of affection for these trains having spent my childhood through university years riding them between Paraparaumu and Wellington. In 1983 I used to catch the first train out of Paraparaumu in the morning (probably around 6am). I still have a distinct memory of walking to the station on a cold, dark, rainy mid-winter's morning and boarding the train, dimly lit with a warm orange glow from its incandescent lamps. The air was warm and humid from the cranking heaters and the water evaporating from the wet passengers, which condensed and ran in streams down the inside of the cold window glass. This would have been just after the electrification was extended to Paraparaumu. Boy those heaters, they got hot. If you rested your foot on them you could actually melt the soles of your shoes!
I'm impressed by the amount of information in this video, so well done on that front. I remember riding the DMs in their final year of service; they had a habit of lurching and swaying about as they went along the Johnsonville Line. I was lucky to see the preserved DM 27 / D 163 set at the Ferrymead Railway earlier this year. The unit wasn't running, but I was still able to have a look through DM 27's interior. I also remember seeing the Cyclops unit at Maymorn in 2022, and I was able to ride in D 2411 when I visited.
After a rugby match in Wellington in the late 90's we were heading home on the Johnsonville line when the carriage filled with smoke just south of Crofton Downs station. The train manager wasn't keen to let us off without clearance from train control, but the mass of fairly rowdy rugby supporters persuaded her that we would all manage to exit via the 'dogbox' as the main doors wouldn't open due to not being lined up with the platform. Regardless of the occasional issue, I miss these old units. The Matangi units just don't have the same character.
One of the retired DM was also donated to the fire service and is a prop at the national training center. It is housed in a building that simulates as a station and tunnel portal, along with a short piece of track and road crossing outside where is can be moved to and be part of exercises/scenarios.
Re the door ventilators, looks like this was a mistake by an editor of Wikipedia - the reference is to a caption in Geoffrey Churchman's book, which simply states "The later stock had shorter windows and ventiliation louvres in the doors."
A full set is in preservation at Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch. It is in running order and is used frequently, under the ownership of the Diesel Traction Group. th-cam.com/video/KzYq4_UsdEE/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/u4dpQjiTtpM/w-d-xo.html
Before the new trains entered service, there was such pressure on the existing trains that the Ferrymead units were temporarily sent back to Wellington.
As a previous resident of Porirua, 7:38 shows an incorrect spelling. However, I remember these units well, as we call them. I've seen most of the original liveries of the units still in operation during the eighties, but hadn't seen the classy blue with silver of the '36 stock.
G'day! I just have one thing to question again, if you're changing the PFP, then what would the PFP look like? A few train lines connecting from Sydney, to Brisbane, or to Melbourne?
Excellent video. A lot of research behind it.
During my 50s-60s childhood my father was an engineer in NZR working on electric traction. Mostly Wellington, but also Christchurch-Lyttelton and Otira I remember him talking of interesting fault-finding challenges.
We lived in central Wellington so I did not actually ride in the trains very much.
You video fills in many gaps in my knowledge, and did not conflict with anything I had already heard.
Fun fact: Wellington kept a ticketing system designed before computers until very recently and perhaps still.
Pre-printed cardboard tickets to be clipped by a conductor.
Paper ticketing has been superseded quite recently and replaced by 'Snapper' cards. I think explorer tickets may still be available and limited on-board cash sales, so no more ticket sales from any stations. 'tag-on, tag-off' machines on all platforms now, including a small 'forest' of them at Wellington Station.
The main reason why the Johnsonville line remained after the Tawa flat deviation opened was because of the former massive Gear meatworks in the Ngauranga gorge. The livestock had to be transported by train up to a point along the line and then led downhill along a track. The meatworks was a massive employer until the early 1980s.
But of course; the 1930s during the depression was not a time when very many people owned their own automobile. So there would continue to be suburban trains along the line. And of course converting to EMU operation was the logical progression.
The DM/D were class. Roomy and solid and long-wearing. Yes they were getting long in the tooth by the 1980s but they had a character and charm about them that the next EM/ET class from the early 80s failed to continue.
DM556 is still in preservation at the Rimutaka Incline Railway. Although the motor and one trailer car are not in use and are sitting outside, one of the trailers are restored and run short shuttles to the end of the Maymorn yard and back, with the assistance of a Tr class shunter.
Glad to hear.
That would also explain why on google maps there's only 2 cars outside.
@@CityConnectionsMediaas far as I know the ganz mavag unit is still in Woburn
@@jamesbarr26191 tranz rail blue set in Wellington yards (in a shed) and a metlink one is somewhere idk of the top of my head
Great summary of DM class history. I have a lot of affection for these trains having spent my childhood through university years riding them between Paraparaumu and Wellington. In 1983 I used to catch the first train out of Paraparaumu in the morning (probably around 6am). I still have a distinct memory of walking to the station on a cold, dark, rainy mid-winter's morning and boarding the train, dimly lit with a warm orange glow from its incandescent lamps. The air was warm and humid from the cranking heaters and the water evaporating from the wet passengers, which condensed and ran in streams down the inside of the cold window glass. This would have been just after the electrification was extended to Paraparaumu. Boy those heaters, they got hot. If you rested your foot on them you could actually melt the soles of your shoes!
That's great to hear!
I love hearing the personal stories of people who rode the trains I talk about!
I'm impressed by the amount of information in this video, so well done on that front. I remember riding the DMs in their final year of service; they had a habit of lurching and swaying about as they went along the Johnsonville Line.
I was lucky to see the preserved DM 27 / D 163 set at the Ferrymead Railway earlier this year. The unit wasn't running, but I was still able to have a look through DM 27's interior. I also remember seeing the Cyclops unit at Maymorn in 2022, and I was able to ride in D 2411 when I visited.
After a rugby match in Wellington in the late 90's we were heading home on the Johnsonville line when the carriage filled with smoke just south of Crofton Downs station. The train manager wasn't keen to let us off without clearance from train control, but the mass of fairly rowdy rugby supporters persuaded her that we would all manage to exit via the 'dogbox' as the main doors wouldn't open due to not being lined up with the platform. Regardless of the occasional issue, I miss these old units. The Matangi units just don't have the same character.
One of the retired DM was also donated to the fire service and is a prop at the national training center. It is housed in a building that simulates as a station and tunnel portal, along with a short piece of track and road crossing outside where is can be moved to and be part of exercises/scenarios.
Part of what kept the English Electric units going is the Ganz Mavag units were too big for the Johnsonville Line tunnels.
Thanks, that was a great summary of commuter train rolling stock in my old home town.
Great video mate! That turned out really well! I certainly learned a lot about railways in Wellington of which I knew nothing!
Re the door ventilators, looks like this was a mistake by an editor of Wikipedia - the reference is to a caption in Geoffrey Churchman's book, which simply states "The later stock had shorter windows and ventiliation louvres in the doors."
That's marvellous to hear since that was one of my assumptions!
Excellent video, I found this really interesting as although I'm Tasmania I love Wellington
Yes, 1500vdc was used
Woo more videos!
Good stuff! Cyclops is still at Maymorn however the group itself is in limbo, hopefully I'll be able to go back there one day.
Where is Maymorn? As a Kiwi living overseas, I would love to see Cyclops on my next visit home.
A full set is in preservation at Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch. It is in running order and is used frequently, under the ownership of the Diesel Traction Group.
th-cam.com/video/KzYq4_UsdEE/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/u4dpQjiTtpM/w-d-xo.html
Yeah! Next time I'm in Christcurch I'm gonna try and go.
Before the new trains entered service, there was such pressure on the existing trains that the Ferrymead units were temporarily sent back to Wellington.
As a previous resident of Porirua, 7:38 shows an incorrect spelling. However, I remember these units well, as we call them. I've seen most of the original liveries of the units still in operation during the eighties, but hadn't seen the classy blue with silver of the '36 stock.
One unit is up here in Paraparaumu look up the blue train and have a look
I saw that while researching! whenever I'm in NZ next I wanna check it out.
G'day! I just have one thing to question again, if you're changing the PFP, then what would the PFP look like? A few train lines connecting from Sydney, to Brisbane, or to Melbourne?
I'm still unsure, but I've got a few WIP designs that I'm gonna choose between.
Man they kept those DM/D trains for so long until like 2010 eraish i remember they were so ratty
Kapiti is pronounced Kaa-Pitee
Melling line is closing at the end of the year
Thankfully only temporarily.
First❤
Yay political shenanigans 🎉