Photo: Gregor Richardson
It is the first time in New Zealand Railway history that a standard railcar has traversed the South Island’s railway lines.
Tokomaru was one of six standard railcars built in the New Zealand Railways Hutt Workshops in 1938 and 1939, as an innovative way to provide comfortable and fast rail services across the North Island, in an effort to replace the slower and costly steam-hauled express trains and also compete with the rise of private motor vehicles.
The railcars had two six-cylinder diesel engines, capable of reaching speeds of about 100kmh.
They were withdrawn from service in 1972.
