NZR RM class (Clayton)
Encyclopedia
The NZR RM class
Clayton steam railcar was a unique railcar
that operated on New Zealand
's national rail network
and one of only two steam railcars to operate in New Zealand - the other being 1925's RM class Sentinel-Cammell
. Built in 1926 by Clayton Carriage and Wagon
of Lincoln
, England
and assembled at the New Zealand Railways Department
's (NZR) workshops in Petone
, the railcar could seat up to 52 people and its steam boiler could generate a pressure of 275 psi. It could be driven from either end and was capable of hauling a wagon or two of freight, and its airy, open design proved popular with passengers. However, it was not popular with crews or mechanics. Before it even commenced revenue operations, a heavier firebox and larger boiler had to be installed, and its poor reliability necessitated regular repairs. Due to these issues, no additional examples of the railcar were built.
After its assembly and improvements were completed, the railcar was transferred to the South Island
and took over passenger duties on the Kurow Branch
, running from Kurow
to Oamaru
and return six days a week. Previously, the line's passenger services had been worked by mixed train
s that carried both passengers and goods and thus would regularly stop for extended periods to load and unload freight, and the steam railcar proved to be a vast improvement, completing the journey an hour quicker, in 1 hour 45 minutes. It could maintain a speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) on straight, flat track, but when presented with steep grades or sharp curves, its speed would drop to 6-14 mph. One quirk of its operations was that farmers' dogs had to be carried in dog boxes for the duration of the trip rather than lying at their master's feet; as the railcar operated on a rural branch line
, this policy was not greeted with enthusiasm.
On 10 November 1928, a regular locomotive-hauled passenger train replaced the railcar, but this was not the end of its life. It was assigned to run various services in Otago
and Southland for a number of years, but after eleven total years of operation, it was withdrawn. Railcar technology was improving (the Vulcan railcar
s were ordered not long after the Clayton retired) and there was little need or economic justification for an older, somewhat unreliable steam-powered railcar that was not suitable for the rugged terrain that typified many lines in New Zealand. It was withdrawn and did not survive to be preserved. Its sandbox
was appropriated for use as a back sand gear on AB
810.
NZR RM class
The RM class is the classification used by the New Zealand Railways Department and its successors given to most railcars and railbuses that have operated on New Zealand's national rail network. As NZR and its successors has operated many diverse types of railcars, alternate names have been given...
Clayton steam railcar was a unique railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
that operated on New Zealand
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...
's national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
and one of only two steam railcars to operate in New Zealand - the other being 1925's RM class Sentinel-Cammell
NZR RM class (Sentinel-Cammell)
The NZR RM class Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar was a steam-powered railcar operated by the New Zealand Railways Department . It was the only one of its type to operate in New Zealand, and one of only two steam railcars trialled in the country; the other was the Clayton steam railcar.-Overview:In...
. Built in 1926 by Clayton Carriage and Wagon
Clayton Equipment Company
Clayton Equipment Company Ltd, now known simply as Clayton Equipment Ltd or CEC and CEL, is a locomotive construction company that specialises in locomotives for underground mining operations.-Inception:...
of Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and assembled at the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
's (NZR) workshops in Petone
Petone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
, the railcar could seat up to 52 people and its steam boiler could generate a pressure of 275 psi. It could be driven from either end and was capable of hauling a wagon or two of freight, and its airy, open design proved popular with passengers. However, it was not popular with crews or mechanics. Before it even commenced revenue operations, a heavier firebox and larger boiler had to be installed, and its poor reliability necessitated regular repairs. Due to these issues, no additional examples of the railcar were built.
After its assembly and improvements were completed, the railcar was transferred to the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
and took over passenger duties on the Kurow Branch
Kurow Branch
The Kurow Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealand's national rail network...
, running from Kurow
Kurow
Kurow is a town in the Waitaki Valley in the South Island of New Zealand, 55 kilometres inland from OamaruThe name of the town is an Anglicised form of the name of the nearby mountain Te Kohurau....
to Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
and return six days a week. Previously, the line's passenger services had been worked by mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s that carried both passengers and goods and thus would regularly stop for extended periods to load and unload freight, and the steam railcar proved to be a vast improvement, completing the journey an hour quicker, in 1 hour 45 minutes. It could maintain a speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) on straight, flat track, but when presented with steep grades or sharp curves, its speed would drop to 6-14 mph. One quirk of its operations was that farmers' dogs had to be carried in dog boxes for the duration of the trip rather than lying at their master's feet; as the railcar operated on a rural branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
, this policy was not greeted with enthusiasm.
On 10 November 1928, a regular locomotive-hauled passenger train replaced the railcar, but this was not the end of its life. It was assigned to run various services in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Southland for a number of years, but after eleven total years of operation, it was withdrawn. Railcar technology was improving (the Vulcan railcar
NZR RM class (Vulcan)
The NZR RM class Vulcan railcars were operated by the New Zealand Railways Department in the South Island of New Zealand. All New Zealand railcars were classified as RM, and these were known as Vulcan railcars, from the name of the manufacturer, Vulcan Foundry of Britain. - Background :On 9 May...
s were ordered not long after the Clayton retired) and there was little need or economic justification for an older, somewhat unreliable steam-powered railcar that was not suitable for the rugged terrain that typified many lines in New Zealand. It was withdrawn and did not survive to be preserved. Its sandbox
Sandbox (railways)
A sandbox is a container on most locomotives and self propelled multiple units, or trams, that run on tramways and adhesion railways...
was appropriated for use as a back sand gear on AB
NZR Ab class
The NZR AB class was a class of 4-6-2 Pacific tender steam locomotive that operated on New Zealand's national railway system. Originally an improvement on the 1906 A class, 141 were built between 1915 and 1927 by NZR's Addington Workshops, A & G Price Limited of Thames, New Zealand, and North...
810.