Bluff Branch
Encyclopedia
The Bluff Branch is a railway line in Southland, New Zealand
that links Invercargill
with the port of Bluff
. One of the first railways in New Zealand, it opened in 1867 and is still operating. Presently, it essentially functions as a continuation of the Main South Line
.
section of what became the Kingston Branch became apparent, and the decision was made to use iron rails to Bluff. Built to the international standard gauge
of 1435 mm (4 feet 8.5 inches), the line opened on 5 February 1867. The national gauge was set at a narrow gauge of 1067 mm (3 feet 6 inches) in the early 1870s and the Bluff Branch was converted to this gauge in a single day, 18 December 1875.
For many years, passenger traffic on the line was heavy, with 20,000 travelling in a single day to a regatta in Bluff on 1 January 1900. However, the development of modern road networks and private cars caused passenger numbers to decline. The 1950 public timetable showed seven weekday services each way, with an eighth on Fridays; five on Saturdays; and one on Sundays. This declined starkly over the following years, and by 1964, only one passenger train ran each way on weekdays and none at weekends. The remaining service was operated for school children, running from Bluff to Invercargill in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. In 1967, all services were cancelled. Passenger trains briefly returned when the Kingston Flyer
operated some services to Bluff between 1979 and 1982.
, September, 1964
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
that links Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
with the port of Bluff
Bluff, New Zealand
Bluff is a town and seaport in the Southland region, on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the southern-most town in New Zealand and, despite Slope Point being further to the south, is colloquially used to refer to the southern extremity of the country...
. One of the first railways in New Zealand, it opened in 1867 and is still operating. Presently, it essentially functions as a continuation of the Main South Line
Main South Line
The Main South Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is a railroad line that runs north and south from Lyttelton in New Zealand through Christchurch and along the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin...
.
Construction
In the early days of New Zealand's colonisation, transport between Bluff and Invercargill was through sometimes impassable swampy terrain. Construction of a road to Bluff (called Campbelltown until March 1917) was approved in 1859, but the swamp defeated the builders and by 1861, a railway was being considered as an alternative. On 8 August 1863 "Lady Barkly", arguably the first locomotive to steam in New Zealand, ran on a small section of track on Invercargill Jetty, and the same year construction of a line to Bluff began. In 1864 the failure of the wooden rails used on the Invercargill-MakarewaMakarewa
Makarewa is a small community north of Invercargill .Facilities include a primary school with a roll of about 130 children, two abandoned dairies, meeting rooms for clubs, a playcentre, country club, squash courts, lawn bowling club, and an indoor swimming pool on the school grounds.Alliance Group...
section of what became the Kingston Branch became apparent, and the decision was made to use iron rails to Bluff. Built to the international standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
of 1435 mm (4 feet 8.5 inches), the line opened on 5 February 1867. The national gauge was set at a narrow gauge of 1067 mm (3 feet 6 inches) in the early 1870s and the Bluff Branch was converted to this gauge in a single day, 18 December 1875.
Operation
Bluff established itself as the port of Southland and the line has always been busy with both inbound and outbound freight. When containerisation was introduced and freight transportation trends changed, Bluff was not selected to be a container port, but it and the railway have remained busy with traffic such as frozen meat, wool, and wood chips.For many years, passenger traffic on the line was heavy, with 20,000 travelling in a single day to a regatta in Bluff on 1 January 1900. However, the development of modern road networks and private cars caused passenger numbers to decline. The 1950 public timetable showed seven weekday services each way, with an eighth on Fridays; five on Saturdays; and one on Sundays. This declined starkly over the following years, and by 1964, only one passenger train ran each way on weekdays and none at weekends. The remaining service was operated for school children, running from Bluff to Invercargill in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. In 1967, all services were cancelled. Passenger trains briefly returned when the Kingston Flyer
Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. It uses 14 kilometres of preserved trackage that once formed a part of the Kingston Branch.-History:...
operated some services to Bluff between 1979 and 1982.
External links
- Bluff's history, including a mention of the railway
- Ohai Railway Board - the Southland Railway History section of the Archives contains some facts on the Bluff Branch
Further reading
Demonstration Test Runs of the Lady Barkly Australian Railway Historical Society BulletinAustralian Railway History
Australian Railway History , is the premier magazine covering railway history in Australia...
, September, 1964