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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Railways

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NameRailwaysDescriptionThe Canterbury settlement's drawcard was its open expanse of fertile plains, ripe for turning into farms. Getting transport sorted out for access was a top priority, and the settlement leaders turned to cutting-edge technology - rail - for a solution. The Great South Railway project would open up the plains and get people, goods and farm produce moving in bulk. The first section from Christchurch reached its end-point at Rolleston in 1866. In 1867, a tunnel through the hills to Lyttelton linked the port to the plains. New Zealand's first public railway was in business. Passenger services were an important part of railway business for more than 100 years. The NZR cup and saucer, pictured in our collection, is a relic of station refreshment rooms, where travellers could buy food and drinks for their journey. Once operations on the railway's main line were up and running, demand for branch lines grew as migrants poured into the province and farms mushroomed on the plains. For example, the Hornby-Lincoln-Southbridge branch served communities that sprang up as migrants developed newly cut-up lots of land and looked to get their farm produce to markets. The Rolleston-Darfield-Malvern brand transported coal mined from the Malvern Hills to power Christchurch industries and heat homes. Rolleston was the junction for the Midland Line that eventually connected the east nd west sides of the island. Building the Midline Line was an extraordinary achievement of labour and engineering, with the biggest hurdle an 8.5-kilometre tunnel through the main divide between Otira and Arthur's Pass. The tunnellers took 10 years to break through - with the east and west sides meeting just 19mm off centre. In 1923 the Midland Line came into operation. In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II's 'Royal Train' travelled from Greymouth to Christchurch on the Midland Line, with a stop at Darfield and a huge welcome from the local community there. |NEED TO UPDATENEED TO UPDATE

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Lowering the Selwyn River Railway Bridge, c. 1906

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CollectionTransportation and IndustryMidland RailwayPlaceOtiraArthur's PassStaircase GullyCassNarrativeThe Railway Cat and her Incredible JourneyCrossing the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana

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Railways