The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 12 (March 1, 1939.)
the east coast railway — napier-wairoa section — Rail-Car Inspection Trip
the east coast railway
napier-wairoa section
Rail-Car Inspection Trip
When the Railway Department takes over the Napier-Wairoa section of the East Coast Railway on a working basis, stated Mr. G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, after his return from a fast railcar trip to Wairoa on 4th February, it is intended to institute a twice-daily service between Napier and Wairoa to connect with the express trains to and from Wellington, and other services. This will give a through service between Wairoa and Wellington.
Mr. Mackley said that the line from Napier to Putorino was in charge of the Working Railways Department, and the line from Putorino to Raupunga, a length of approximately fourteen miles, was now ready for handing over by the Public Works Department. The Minister of Railways has signed the necessary warrant, and when that length has been taken over by the Working Railways Department, it will give a distance of forty-three miles from Napier under its control.
That leaves approximately thirty miles of line between Raupunga and Wairoa still in the hands of the Public Works Department. The work on this section of the line is very well advanced, and it is expected by the Public Works Department that this portion of the line, so far as the traffic section is concerned, will be ready for handing over to the Working Railways Department in about three months. Some cottages and other buildings, however, still remain to be completed at Wairoa before that portion of the line can be used for the full passenger and goods service. As soon as the line itself is ready to hand over, from Raupunga to Wairoa, it is the intention, as indicated by the Minister of Railways, to introduce a modified passenger service by the utilisation of the standard type of railcar, as the staff arrangements for this type of service will enable the Department to proceed with these arrangements without waiting until all the cottages have been built.
“As the following times of different stages of the journey indicate,” said Mr. Mackley, “the railcar, ‘Tokomaru,’ again performed exceptionally well. On the up trip the actual running time from Wellington to Palmerston North was 1 hr. 46 min. for the 87 miles, and the homeward journey between these points 1 hr. 42 min. The actual running time from Wairoa to Napier was 2 hr. 5 min., and the actual running time from Napier to Wellington was 4 hr. 28 mins.”
Some residents who were taken from Wairoa to Napier commented upon the excellent riding qualities of the car. There were others who had the opportunity of testing the car at high speeds, and they also praised it. On straight portions of track where the running conditions were good the car again had no difficulty in attaining speeds of 70 miles an hour, and the riding qualities of the vehicle, even at this high speed, were the subject of most favourable comment.