About Us
The Midland Rail Heritage Trust was formed in 2004 by a group of keen rail enthusiasts to preserve the steam locomotives that worked the Midland Railway and promote one of New Zealands great natural and man made assets the Midland Line from Christchurch to Greymouth.
Midland Rail Line
The Midland Railway, officially from the Rolleston Junction to Stillwater Junction, but usually seen as running from Christchurch to Greymouth
The Midland Line is one of the most spectacular and scenic in the world with its chain of 19 tunnels, one of which the Otira tunnel is one of the longest in the world.
The line is also known for its many viaducts, where here again afford great scenery and engineering feats of the 1930s. The line at one stage was threatened with closure, but these days is a very profitable piece of New Zealand rail network running daily 8 coal trains, 2-3 freight trains and the world famous TRANZAlpine scenic train
Travel by Steam Express
With the limited ownership of cars and the shocking road conditions the most popular travel between the West Coast and Christchurch from the 1920’s to 1960’s was by steam express. Unfortunately this saw the demise of the coaching days in 1922 but was a boom time for travel by steam.
Somehow we seemed to have more time to spare in those days with the train leaving Hokitika about 10 am and arriving in Christchurch about 5.30 pm after a very relaxing days travel.
There was morning tea at Stillwater where it met the steam train from Westport, lunch at Otira while the steam trains were changed for electric to climb 1,200 feet through the 5 miles of Otira Tunnel to Arthur’s Pass to change trains again at Arthur’s Pass.
Moving then on the downhill run to Springfield where yes there was time for afternoon tea. Remember the big heavy railway cups and those slabs of delicious fruit cake or slightly dry sandwiches. Perhaps one day the Midland Rail Trust may recapture some of this era.
The History of the Springfield Area
Springfield is based at the foot of the Southern Alps and is where the serious railway construction began with 5 main viaducts, 16 tunnels and steep grades. Springfield serviced this high maintenance section of the Midland Railway Line with smaller depots at Staircase, Avoca, Craigieburn, Cass and Arthur’s Pass.
It was also the base of steam locomotives, G, AB’s, & KB’s, with their crews. This saw approximately 70 people, at any one time, employed by NZR from the early 1920’s through to the mid 1980’s when the Springfield Tearooms finally closed due to the on board catering service and the depots being re-located in the main cities.
The Springfield tearooms re-opened in June 2003 as the Springfield Visitor Information Buro and Station73 Café. The tearooms now house photos and memorabilia of the years gone by and our Trust plans are to build from this (as a separate identity) to bring back operations to depict the Springfield Railway depot of old.
We intend on building this with live exhibitions, and projects as well as static displays for not only local New Zealanders to enjoy but travelers passing through the township.
In order to do this we invite to you apply to join the Midland Rail Heritage Trust as a member of the Trust.
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