508:
128:
94:(formerly State Highway 1; to 7 December 2021) below, which runs along the edge of the sea front, the route is almost perpendicular in places and the section constitutes a bottleneck for rail transport north of Wellington. The line climbs 200 feet in 5 miles going south (61m in 8 km); the hillside is a “creeper”. The line has steep gradients south from Paekakariki and climbing to Pukerua Bay at a ratio of 1 in 66, with short sections of 1 in 60 and 1 in 118.
477:, E No 1806 hauling a freight train was derailed by a fall of rock over the abandoned No 12 tunnel, just after the passing of the Auckland Express. E 1806 was nearly pushed over the bank to the road below, and was subsequently given an "A" grade overhaul; the first given to the class in ten years of service.
484:. The WMR carriages were higher the NZR loading gauge at 12' 2½" (3.72m) rather than 11' 6" (3.51m), and were required to be tested before running on Government lines. But in 1940 a ventilator on A 1106 touched the new electric overhead line in tunnel 10, after which ex-WMR cars were restricted to the
495:
1900, 24 February - A brick fell on the engine in No 12 tunnel, breaking a window. The injury to the driver’s eye from broken glass resulted in a court case, and the driver (William McLeod) was awarded £1000 (or £750, according to Hoy & Parsons), plus £500 from the company’s insurer. No 12 tunnel
191:
By 4 October 1886 the last two tunnels (No 11,12) were completed and tracks laid in them. The WMR chairman J E Nathan arranged a special train from
Wellington with 120 passengers, and held a “laying the last brick” ceremony with a plaque in No 12 tunnel. The train could only go as far as Waikanae. On
140:
The proposed route north of
Wellington through Crofton (Ngaio), Khandallah, Johnsonville, Tawa (Flat), Porirua and Plimmerton was chosen in 1879 for the West Coast Railway to Palmerston North. by Government surveyors. The route, with work done on the section to Johnsonville was handed over to the WMR
499:
1896, 23 June - outside No 13 tunnel engine No 13 hit a rock slip, and toppled down the embankment to the beach 25 ft below, taking with it four wagons of timber. Left on the track were five derailed wagons plus three passenger cars and the van at the rear. The loco was repaired and in service,
491:
1911, 20 February - The Napier
Express was approaching Paekakariki from the south, when a large boulder (15 cwt or 760 kg) dislodged from the Paekakariki Escarpment above rolled down onto a second class carriage, killing Miss Alice Power (23y) from Greymouth who was travelling with two friends.
436:
On 17 August 2021 a landslip blocked the Kapiti Line one kilometre south of the
Fisherman’s Table restaurant at the north end of the single-line section, and derailed a Matangi train. The single-track section had had one slip alarm, but not on the section of line where the slip occurred. The Matangi
187:
Access was a problem; Brown built a temporary tramway along the beach from
Pukerua Bay to just below No 13 tunnel on the wavecut platform at the cliff base. Material was sent by sea to Pukerua Bay. Once, injured men could not be removed for three days because of rough seas in Pukerua Bay before they
503:
1885-86; there were five deaths during construction, three on 18 January 1885 during construction of tunnel no 8 when an earthquake caused a slip and the tunnel caved in killing three men; Peter George, Henry Lloyd and Mathew
Penzadeth or Pavzadetti (an Austrian). On one occasion injured men could
275:
The shortest (No 13) was concrete lined, but Nos 8-12 were brick lined. Initially bricks were made at
Paekakariki, and on the Muri station site 925m (46 chains) north of Pukerua Bay station, But they were unsuitable, so bricks were railed from Wellington, including some made in the prison.
547:
proposed a long tunnel underneath the
Pukerua saddle. Double-tracking has been urged by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which is keen to improve the speed and frequency of suburban commuter services. A single double track tunnel or twin tunnels has been suggested; see
242:
A short section of sharply-curved track north of Muri on the North–South
Junction and the Tawa No 2 Tunnel are the only sections of the Wellington overhead power catenary system where for technical reasons a modern auto-tensioned overhead system could not be installed; the
171:
The
Paekakariki or No 16 Contract was 6.8 km or 4 miles and 16 chains in length, on an almost vertical cliff face breasting the sea, exposed to the prevailing north-west winds and drenched by sea spray. No road or rail access was possible. The contract was given to
188:
could be sent to Wellington. A saddle-tank works locomotive “Belmont” plus two wagons and a van were lowered from above to the beach; they were also used for passengers and light goods. The track from Wellington reached Pukerua Bay and the Muri site at the end of 1885.
271:
The first tunnel (No 8) took 28 weeks to build and there was an accident (see Accidents), but the others less; 10 weeks for No 10. For No 11 there was a cross drive in the middle and a turntable for spoil wagons, so three or 4 faces could be worked at once.
701:
986:
259:
There were originally six tunnels, but No 12 was bypassed and abandoned in 1900 after an accident and subsequent court case. They were subsequently given names by the NZR. Tunnels Nos 8-13, were renumbered to Nos 3-7 after the
451:; Signal 3132 at Muri was over-run by a diesel-hauled goods train (diesel locos was not fitted with trips) and was involved in a minor rear-end collision with an EMU commuter train; one of two commuter trains ahead.
1236:
813:
660:
195:
There were five deaths during construction; three in a cave-in in the first (No 8) tunnel on 18 January 1885 during construction; an earthquake caused a slip and the tunnel caved in killing 3 men.
230:
1967; track in the tunnels was lowered, so that freight trains with D class diesel locomotives could run through to Wellington without an engine change to an electric loco at Paekakariki.
831:
857:
531:
If tablet control had been retained for this section instead of CTC, staffed signal cabins would have been required at each end i.e. at the North Junction and the South Junction.
239:
2023 (May): An alarm system was cutover to monitor the 25-km section of line from Paekakiriki and Plimmerton, with monitoring equipment at 20 sites to warn of possible slips.
141:
in 1882, after the new government of John Hall replaced that of George Grey and halted expenditure on the proposed line in 1881, wanting to concentrate on the Wairarapa Line.
799:
426:
2024, 26 August - a rockfall near Pukerua bay was hit by a commuter train from Paekakariki. The train returned to Paekakariki. The line was blocked for several hours.
1241:
1226:
1152:
715:
1175:
1110:
1036:
233:
2011 (February); duplication (double-track) extended from Mackays Crossing to past Pukerua Bay and the beginning of the Paekakariki Escarpment section.
480:
1940 - A fire in a carriage when the roof ventilator of a WMR carriage (NZR No A1106) contacted the overhead line in tunnel no 10 and caught fire, see
429:
2022, 26 August - a slip blocked the Kapiti Line between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki on Friday morning between 6.10 am and 9.40 am. The section of
279:
The names of the tunnels and their length in feet and meters are: (Parsons says that Tunnel No 6 is 244m long (plus 14m extension at south end):
102:
65:
785:
827:
771:
203:
1886 (February): the temporary tramway built by the contractor was used; passengers and their luggage and light goods were trans-shipped to a
20:
1231:
1221:
1201:
853:
1160:
1137:
1095:
507:
544:
114:
1118:
430:
91:
177:
462:, returning to Wellington light engine from Paekakariki, derailed on a curve due to excessive speed and almost fell onto
61:
523:
1940: line electrified (1500V DC) to Paekakariki; double-track installed as far as this section, and CTC installed, see
463:
214:
149:
49:
45:
729:
561:
159:
The section north of Plimmerton was opened on 3 November 1886 with an official ceremony attended by the Governor at
163:
north of Paraparaumu. The first through freight train had already run from Longburn to Johnsonville on 30 October.
106:
84:
153:
110:
98:
80:
72:
977:
v13/4/15 (1982) “Drama on the Paekak Line’ by Jack Buckley; Back cover (lower) has photo of damaged carriage.
57:
127:
1087:
156:
in the 1970s; retaining the existing route as a branch line for commuter traffic to Pukerua Bay or Muri.
496:
was subsequently closed and bypassed. The company had erected overhead chutes to catch falling stones.
131:
E & DC class locomotives descending to Paekakariki from the incline past Pukerua Bay, 21 August 2005
481:
448:
173:
41:
543:
Double-tracking of this single-track section has been proposed a number of times. In the 1970s the
265:
261:
207:
for Foxton waiting at Paekakariki; and (from 2 August 1886) to a coach for the railhead at Otaki.
145:
90:
The line is on an unstable hillside, the Paekakariki Escarpment, and with a two-lane section of
1197:
1156:
1133:
1114:
1091:
248:
578:
244:
121:
440:
1989, 19 November - a three-coach southbound EMU derails after running into slip, north of
224:
1945: Some Electric Multiple units (EMUs) used to provide commuter service to Paekakariki.
1107:
Uncommon Carrier - The History of the Wellington & Manawatu Railway Company, 1882-1908
500:
although it is not known how it was recovered. The engine driver was also William McLeod.
437:
EMUs are expected to be take months to repair, at a cost of up to half a million dollars.
181:
566:
1185:
West of the Tararuas: An Illustrated History of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Co
1215:
520:
1967: track in tunnels dropped so Da locomotives could run under the overhead wires
459:
76:
549:
524:
474:
470:
455:
218:
210:
1886: Line operational from 30 October; the official opening was on 3 November.
204:
53:
37:
79:
to just before the bridge over SH59, before the Waikanae River bridge south of
33:
1037:"Tragedy at No 8 tunnel; collapse leads to deaths of three immigrant workers"
702:"SH1 open after Kapiti train tderailment and slipbut but delays still likely"
236:
2011 (August): A serious slip near Kapiti closes the line and state highway.
144:
The only alternative route north of Wellington to Kapiti and the Manawatu is
814:"Train units could be out of action for months after Paekakariki derailment"
535:
1900: tunnel No 12 abandoned and bypassed after an accident. See Accidents.
485:
160:
83:, and the line south from Pukerua Bay is double tracked to the terminus at
562:
Photo of the Napier Express descending the line north of Pukerua Bay c1932
152:. The Gully route was also suggested for the NIMT as part of the proposed
733:
1149:
Semaphore to CTC: Signalling and train working in New Zealand, 1863-1993
800:"Wild-weather-rages-Pukerua Bay is stuck between the slips and the sea"
1060:
1058:
32:
is a section of single-track rail line about 7 km long, north of
828:"SH1 open after Kapiti train derailment slip but delays still likely"
716:"Eyes on potential-slips along Kapiti Line as new system goes online"
176:. Construction of the southern section of the line was supervised by
504:
not be removed for three days because of rough seas in Pukerua Bay.
117:(NZR) system, and it was handed over to the NZR at the end of 1908.
444:
on the single track section between Pukerua Bay & Paekakariki;
506:
126:
1084:
Can't Get There From Here - New Zealand Passenger Rail Since 1920
1130:
Danger Ahead – New Zealand Railway Accidents in the Modern Era
854:"Road and rail delayed after morning slip north of Wellington"
1196:. Wellington: New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society.
643:
641:
639:
924:
Agnew, John (March 2017). "The Passenger Cars of the WMR".
954:
952:
950:
937:
935:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
672:
670:
60:
line between Wellington and Auckland, and part of the
1237:
Buildings and structures in the Kāpiti Coast District
1064:
1049:
433:
below the railway line was blocked for over a week.
772:"Swollen rivers and flooding in lower North Island"
113:near Palmerston North, where it connected with the
71:Because of the commuter traffic from Wellington to
786:"Slip cleared from train line north of Wellington"
192:27 October the last rail was laid near Waikanae.
1194:Wellington’s Railways: Colonial Steam to Matangi
1132:. Sydney and Wellington: IPL Publishing Group.
227:1962: Changes to CTC signalling installation.
989:. Otago Witness in Papers Past. 1 March 1911.
8:
1153:New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society
1082:Brett, André; van der Weerden, Sam (2021).
264:opened in 1937 and bypassed the section to
1176:New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society
1111:New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society
663:. Ashburton Guardian in Papers Past. 1886.
281:
124:runs above this section of road and rail.
899:
103:Wellington & Manawatu Railway Company
66:Wellington & Manawatu Railway Company
1011:
999:
647:
630:
618:
75:plus freight traffic, the line north is
958:
758:
590:
887:
856:. Radio New Zealand. 17 August 2020.
688:
676:
7:
774:. Stuff New Zealand. 26 August 2024.
511:Swing bridge on the Escarpment Track
148:which is the route of the four-lane
16:Railway near Wellington, New Zealand
1242:Buildings and structures in Porirua
1023:
941:
911:
860:from the original on 18 August 2021
834:from the original on 18 August 2021
746:
606:
1227:Rail infrastructure in New Zealand
816:. Stuff/Fairfax. 7 September 2020.
14:
830:. Stuff/Fairfax. 17 August 2020.
251:were also upgraded in 2018-2021.
21:North–South line (disambiguation)
1065:Brett & van der Weerden 2021
1050:Brett & van der Weerden 2021
788:. Stuff/Fairfax. 26 August 2022.
704:. Stuff/Fairfax. 17 August 2021.
105:(WMR) in the 1880s. It ran from
52:to the north. It is part of the
1128:Churchman, Geoffrey B. (1992).
987:"Photo of carriage and boulder"
184:the chief engineer of the WMR.
217:signaling installed; see also
1:
718:. Stuff/Fairfax. 30 May 2023.
469:1961, 19 September - between
1232:Railway lines opened in 1886
1222:Rail transport in Wellington
466:below the line; two killed.
730:"Upgrading of power supply"
567:Video from Escarpment trail
150:Transmission Gully Motorway
50:Paekakariki railway station
46:Pukerua Bay railway station
1258:
1187:. Dunedin: Southern Press.
1147:Heine, Richard W. (2000).
213:1940: electrification and
85:Wellington railway station
40:between the closed (2011)
18:
1105:Cassells, Ken R. (1994).
1183:Hoy, Douglas G. (1972).
1172:Rails out of the Capital
1170:Hoy, Douglas G. (1970).
154:Haywards-Plimmerton Line
122:Escarpment walking track
99:Wellington-Manawatu Line
81:Waikanae railway station
62:Wellington–Manawatu Line
1192:Parsons, David (2010).
58:North Island Main Trunk
1088:Otago University Press
1039:. Stuff/Fairfax. 2023.
802:. Stuff/Fairfax. 2022.
512:
132:
510:
130:
691:, pp. 126, 127.
482:NZR 50-foot carriage
449:Muri railway station
115:New Zealand Railways
42:Muri railway station
30:North–South Junction
19:For other uses, see
926:New Zealand Railfan
262:Tawa Flat Deviation
1052:, p. 112-113.
1026:, pp. 69, 70.
944:, pp. 68, 69.
661:"Manawatu Railway"
650:, pp. 32, 33.
609:, pp. 32, 33.
513:
146:Transmission Gully
133:
48:) and the (lower)
1203:978-0-908573-88-2
633:, pp. 14–24.
545:Ministry of Works
516:Past improvements
419:
418:
249:Johnsonville Line
101:was built by the
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579:Escarpment Track
552:under "Future".
539:Future proposals
447:1979, October -
442:Bean Pole Fence,
431:State Highway 59
282:
245:Hutt Valley Line
92:State Highway 59
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464:State Highway 1
458:, Wellington –
454:1978, 25 May -
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182:Harry Higginson
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64:, built by the
56:section of the
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1174:. Wellington:
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1109:. Wellington:
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978:
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900:Churchman 1992
892:
890:, p. 127.
880:
878:Rails magazine
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763:
761:, p. 200.
751:
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959:Parsons 2010
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862:. Retrieved
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759:Parsons 2010
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294:Length (ft)
278:
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266:Johnsonville
258:
241:
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235:
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212:
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194:
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186:
178:James Fulton
174:Samuel Brown
170:
167:Construction
158:
143:
139:
119:
96:
89:
70:
29:
27:
25:
550:Kapiti Line
525:Kapiti Line
475:Paekakariki
471:Pukerua Bay
456:Pukerua Bay
297:Length (m)
219:Kapiti Line
54:Kapiti Line
38:New Zealand
1216:Categories
1120:0908573634
888:Heine 2000
689:Heine 2000
677:Heine 2000
288:later No.
107:Wellington
44:(north of
34:Wellington
864:18 August
838:18 August
585:Citations
486:Hutt Line
422:Accidents
268:in 1938.
199:Operation
161:Otaihanga
1024:Hoy 1972
942:Hoy 1972
912:Hoy 1970
858:Archived
832:Archived
747:Hoy 1970
734:KiwiRail
607:Hoy 1972
573:See also
374:244 + 14
368:Brighton
349:Sea View
330:St Kilda
300:Remarks
247:and the
180:, under
111:Longburn
73:Waikanae
736:. 2022.
407:Neptune
311:Pukerua
255:Tunnels
136:History
68:(WMR).
1200:
1159:
1136:
1117:
1094:
460:D 1470
401:No.13
381:No.12
362:No.11
343:No.10
291:Name
205:coach
1198:ISBN
1157:ISBN
1134:ISBN
1115:ISBN
1092:ISBN
866:2021
840:2021
473:and
404:No 7
365:No 6
346:No 5
327:No 4
324:No.9
308:No 3
305:No.8
285:No.
120:The
97:The
28:The
410:192
393:271
390:888
371:801
355:186
352:612
336:278
333:952
317:153
314:500
215:CTC
109:to
1218::
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