The Snail Rail – Stratford Main Trunk Railway, a tale of 32 years

It was 1895 and eastern settlers were suffering from neglect and isolation - the further they were away from Stratford the more they were isolated. For much of the year sections of the road out to the settlement of Whangamomona and beyond were impassable. The unmetalled road became a quagmire of mud in winter, and a rough, dried up track in summer. Provisions and equipment had to be ordered...

The railway and Puke Ariki – the disappearance of a pa

Rail Relief – New Plymouth’s first railway

Early New Plymouth was isolated. It didn't have a safe port and the few roads were rough and often impassable in winter. The province relied on bullock drawn drays to shift heavy loads. To travel anywhere took time and effort. A railway was suggested as early as 1864, but the land wars put everything on hold for several years. It was rather fortuitous then, to have the Prime Minister himself...

Once upon a time – a little railway story

Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong. The little train rumbled over the tracks..." The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper     The Little Preservation Society That Could Just like a children's story book, Waitara has its own version of The Little Engine That Could - or maybe it's Thomas the Tank Engine? That would make chairman of the Waitara Railway...

Charles Brown goes down in history

Charles Brown came to the infant settlement of New Plymouth in 1841 to set up business with his father, Charles Armitage Brown, a friend of the poet Keats. Charles Brown senior died soon after, but his 21-year-old son remained and became a well-liked and respected member of the community. At 33 he was elected the Provincial Government's first superintendent in 1853. In 1859 he helped establish...