Railways

A DigitalNZ Story by Alice Mila

Image: Portrait of Robert Semple

Portrait of Robert Semple

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Robert Semple addressing workers in Auckland

Robert Semple addressing workers in Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Newspaper

ROBERT SEMPLE. (Marlborough Express, 16 December 1916)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Prime minister Sidney Holland arriving at Parliament after an absence due to illness

Prime minister Sidney Holland arriving at Parliament after an absence due to illness

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Prime Minister Sidney Holland and Mrs Holland leaving for London

Prime Minister Sidney Holland and Mrs Holland leaving for London

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sir Sidney Holland

Sir Sidney Holland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Newspaper

OTIRA TUNNEL. (Marlborough Express, 06 September 1918)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Workers by the Otira Tunnel

Workers by the Otira Tunnel

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: ON THE ROUTE OF THE MIDLAND RAILWAY: SURVEY CAMP NEAR THE OTIRA TUNNEL. SOUTH ISLAND. N.Z.

ON THE ROUTE OF THE MIDLAND RAILWAY: SURVEY CAMP NEAR THE OTIRA TUNNEL. SOUTH ISLAND. N.Z.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Seated portrait of Sir Donald McLean

Seated portrait of Sir Donald McLean

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Raurimu Spiral

Raurimu Spiral

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Wf class tank engine climbing the Raurimu spiral

Wf class tank engine climbing the Raurimu spiral

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Final spike - North Island main trunk line

Final spike - North Island main trunk line

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE ROAD FORMATION GANG

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE ROAD FORMATION GANG

Auckland Libraries

Image: NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: SHIFTING CAMP, A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE ON THE WORKS

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: SHIFTING CAMP, A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE ON THE WORKS

Auckland Libraries

Image: NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: A PUMICE CUTTING AT RAURIMU

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: A PUMICE CUTTING AT RAURIMU

Auckland Libraries

Image: A construction team on the North Island Main Trunk Line, volcanic plateau.

A construction team on the North Island Main Trunk Line, volcanic plateau.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: PROGRESS OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: FIRST TRAIN CROSSING THE HAPUWHENUI VIADUCT, NEAR OHAKUNE

PROGRESS OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: FIRST TRAIN CROSSING THE HAPUWHENUI VIADUCT, NEAR OHAKUNE

Auckland Libraries

Image: Railway construction workers opening up a cutting on the North Island Main Trunk Line; location unidentified

Railway construction workers opening up a cutting on the North Island Main Trunk Line; location unidentified

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Passengers who travelled on the first Main Trunk train, including Sir Joseph Ward

Passengers who travelled on the first Main Trunk train, including Sir Joseph Ward

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artist unknown :Camp life in the New Zealand bush; a scene on the route of the North Island main trunk railway at the Hapuawhenua viaduct, near Ohakune. [Auckland] Auckland Weekly News, special Christmas supplement, 1908.

Artist unknown :Camp life in the New Zealand bush; a scene on the route of the North Island main trunk railway at the Hapuawhenua viaduct, near Oha...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Kauri bush on the Main Trunk Line

Kauri bush on the Main Trunk Line

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A party surveying the North Island main trunk line in Raurimu

A party surveying the North Island main trunk line in Raurimu

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE: THE ROAD GANG AT WORK AHEAD OF THE RAILWAY

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE: THE ROAD GANG AT WORK AHEAD OF THE RAILWAY

Auckland Libraries

Image: Railway workers in a cutting, during the construction of the Main Trunk Line at Raurimu

Railway workers in a cutting, during the construction of the Main Trunk Line at Raurimu

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The present state of construction of the Makatote Viaduct, showing the country under snow

The present state of construction of the Makatote Viaduct, showing the country under snow

Auckland Libraries

Image: Road between the Ohakune and Makatote rail-heads

Road between the Ohakune and Makatote rail-heads

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT: THE STEEL VIADUCT JUST COMPLETED OVER THE MAKATOTE GORGE

A GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT: THE STEEL VIADUCT JUST COMPLETED OVER THE MAKATOTE GORGE

Auckland Libraries

Image: Makatote viaduct

Makatote viaduct

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: THE END OF A GREAT NATIONAL UNDERTAKING

THE END OF A GREAT NATIONAL UNDERTAKING

Auckland Libraries

Image: OPENING OF A NEW SECTION OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE FIRST TRAIN TO ARRIVE AT MATAROA STATION, JUNE 1, 1907

OPENING OF A NEW SECTION OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE FIRST TRAIN TO ARRIVE AT MATAROA STATION, JUNE 1, 1907

Auckland Libraries

Image: Creator unknown : Richard Seddon at the turning of the first sod for the Westport to Inangahua Railway

Creator unknown : Richard Seddon at the turning of the first sod for the Westport to Inangahua Railway

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: CULVERT-MAKING ON THE LINE NEAR RAURIMU

CULVERT-MAKING ON THE LINE NEAR RAURIMU

Auckland Libraries

Image: Railway workers by their camp in Raurimu

Railway workers by their camp in Raurimu

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Railway workers by a tunnel under construction at Raurimu

Railway workers by a tunnel under construction at Raurimu

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: THE ENTRANCE TO THE SMALL TUNN EL ON THE RAURIMU SPIRAL

THE ENTRANCE TO THE SMALL TUNN EL ON THE RAURIMU SPIRAL

Auckland Libraries

Image: NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE APPROACH TO THE LARGE TUNNEL AT RAURIMU

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE APPROACH TO THE LARGE TUNNEL AT RAURIMU

Auckland Libraries

Image: ONE OF THE GREAT ENGINEERING FEATS OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE: THE SPIRAL AT RAURIMU, SHOWING A TRAIN CLIMBING THE INCLINE

ONE OF THE GREAT ENGINEERING FEATS OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE: THE SPIRAL AT RAURIMU, SHOWING A TRAIN CLIMBING THE INCLINE

Auckland Libraries

Image: CLEARING THE FACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SMALL TUNNEL WHICH FORMS A LINK IN THE GREAT LOOP TUNNEL AT RAURIMU

CLEARING THE FACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SMALL TUNNEL WHICH FORMS A LINK IN THE GREAT LOOP TUNNEL AT RAURIMU

Auckland Libraries

Image: Hapuawhenua Viaduct, Height 154 ft Length 974 ft, Main Trunk Line

Hapuawhenua Viaduct, Height 154 ft Length 974 ft, Main Trunk Line

Auckland Libraries

Image: Bush scene, with bush tramway line

Bush scene, with bush tramway line

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A bush tramway and smithy near Tokatoka, Northern Wairoa

A bush tramway and smithy near Tokatoka, Northern Wairoa

Auckland Libraries

Image: Steam train on the Rimutaka Incline

Steam train on the Rimutaka Incline

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Digging the first sod for the Main Trunk Railway, at the confiscation line at the southern bank of the Puniu River

Digging the first sod for the Main Trunk Railway, at the confiscation line at the southern bank of the Puniu River

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Isaacs, David Morris, 1824?-1909: Portrait of Arthur Dudley Dobson

Isaacs, David Morris, 1824?-1909: Portrait of Arthur Dudley Dobson

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: New Zealand Railways. Publicity Branch: Farmers! Send your fruit and produce to Reilly's, Dunedin. Telegrams Reilly's Dunedin, P.O. Box 526. [Lithographed by] ChCh Press Co. Ltd. [Designed by] Railways Studios [1950]

New Zealand Railways. Publicity Branch: Farmers! Send your fruit and produce to Reilly's, Dunedin. Telegrams Reilly's Dunedin, P.O. Box 526. [Litho...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Burton, Alfred Henry, 1834?-1914: Maori village at Te Kumi

Burton, Alfred Henry, 1834?-1914: Maori village at Te Kumi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: [Baker, William George], 1864-1929 :Ruapehu from the Maori Pa at Patea. [ca 1900]

[Baker, William George], 1864-1929 :Ruapehu from the Maori Pa at Patea. [ca 1900]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: At Whare Komiti, Haerehuka, King Country

At Whare Komiti, Haerehuka, King Country

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: 3622 Great Chiefs at Whare - Komiti - Haerehuka - King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

3622 Great Chiefs at Whare - Komiti - Haerehuka - King Country. Burton Bros. Dunedin

Auckland Libraries