Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekākāriki railway station, Paekākāriki at the southern end of the Kāpiti Coast, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Unlike some societies who operate on preserved sections of closed branch lines, Steam Incorporated owns a depot ("The Engine Shed") beside one of the country's most important railway lines, the North Island Main Trunk railway, and restores heritage locomotives and rolling stock for use on excursions on the regular national rail network.
Paekākāriki's close association with the railway began in 1886 when the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line from Wellington to Longburn opened. Paekākāriki railway station was a large station despite the settlement's small size, as it was ideally located as a locomotive changeover point - powerful engines were required to tackle the difficult grades between Wellington and Paekākāriki, while lighter and more nimble ones were better suited to the gentle grades and straight track through the Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua to Manawatū.
The New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway in December 1908, but Paekākāriki's status as an important depot remained unchanged. In 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekākāriki was electrified and Paekākāriki's depot was altered: it became the changeover point from electric to steam motive power, or electric to diesel from the 1950s onwards. Paekākāriki also was an important goods transfer point between NZR and its "Rail Air" service that operated out of Paraparaumu across Cook Strait, before the inter-island rail ferries were introduced. A large shed was constructed at Paekākāriki by the US Marines stationed in the area for use with the Rail Air service during World War II.
In the late 1960s with steam traction coming to an end, the locomotive depot in Paekākāriki was closed and the diesel locomotives that replaced steam were based out of Wellington instead. The main engine shed was demolished along with several other buildings, but the Rail Air Shed, two signal boxes, amenities building and a turntable remained when Steam Incorporated acquired the site. New sheds were constructed to replace those demolished, and the Rail Air Shed and amenities buildings were acquired when it became available. While initially leasing a portion of the site, Steam Incorporated now owns the whole former depot site including the 70 ft turntable, to which the railways retain a right of access.
As steam traction started to disappear from the NZR network, a group of enthusiasts united to preserve steam locomotives with the express intention of running them on the mainline network. At the time, all locomotives that had been preserved were solely for use on heritage railways or for static display as the NZR sold locomotives on the proviso that they would never again run on the NZR network, it was a radical concept.
Steam Incorporated was formed in 1972,[1] and locomotives were purchased by the society or for the society by members.[2] Until 1985, NZR had decreed that no steam locomotives were to run on mainlines. NZR then allowed one mainline excursion a year. In 1988, following the success of the Ferrymead 125 celebrations, NZR agreed to lift the ban and charged enthusiasts to use the network. As a result, Steam Incorporated were able to run excursions on the network from their Paekākāriki base. In 1988, Steam Incorporated also acquired two DA class locomotives recently withdrawn by NZR.
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Builder's Number | Year Built | Arrived at Steam Inc | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB 608 | NZR Addington Workshops | 163 | 1915 | 1993 | First AB built. Owned by the NZR&LS, previously statically displayed at Ferrymead. Leased to Steam Incorporated, 1993. Main line certified. Named Passchendaele | |
| A800 | 1955 | 1988 | Transferred back to Paekakariki from the Glenbrook Vintage Railway in June 2015. Main line certified. | |||
| DA 1431 | General Motors | 57-135 | 1957 | 1988 | Painted in unique livery for NZ Sesquicentennial, 1990. Main line certified. | |
| DA 1471 | General Motors | A2017 | 1963 | 2012 | Formerly part of the NZ Rail Heritage Collection. Leased to Steam Inc in 2004 but returned in 2007; brought outright in 2012 after storage at Hutt Workshops. Currently under restoration. | |
| DC 4375 | Clyde Engineering | 79/900 (Clyde Engineering makers No.) | 1979 | 2021 | Ex-Da 1540 built by General Motors Canada in 1967 then rebuilt by Clyde Engineering and numbered Dc 1585 in 1979 with cab numberboards only pre-TMS and Later-TMS 4375 on longhood for a brief time until 1980. Arrived at Paekakariki on 1 April 2021 | |
| DS 202 | 2526 | 1955 | 1985 | Used as the Paekakariki yard shunter. Currently stored. | ||
| J 1234 | North British Locomotive Company | 24557 | 1939 | 1974 | Restored for main line use 1992. Formerly leased to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. Transferred back to Steam Inc in June 2015. Awaiting an overhaul. | |
| JA 1271 | NZR Hillside Workshops | 394 | 1956 | 1978 | Acquired as stripped hulk. Comprehensively restored to working order in 1997. Currently main line certified. | |
| 294 | 1934 | 2001 | Used as a static boiler supply at Hutt Workshops prior to preservation. Stored as an incomplete hulk with the tender from K 928, originally brought as a spare boiler for KA 945. | |||
| KA 945 | NZR Hutt Workshops | 328 | 1939 | 1981 | Purchased by Sir Len Southward in 1967. Stored in Taumaranui until 1975 and later donated to Steam Inc. in 1981. Overhauled to working order in April 1985. Withdrawn in May 1995 for 10 year inspection. Stored until 2014, currently undergoing major overhaul back to working order. | |
| WF 386 | NZR Addington Workshops | 66 | 1905 | 1978 | Withdrawn 1958. Saved for Preservation and moved to Taumarunui for 20 Years. Purchased by Steam Incorporated in 1978. Dismantled awaiting a planned Restoration after KA 945 is restored. |
In Addition:
Steam Incorporated owns one of New Zealand's largest fleets of heritage passenger carriages certified for mainline operation on the regular national network. Originally painted in a unique chocolate brown livery with yellow lining to differentiate them from carriages in service on regular trains, the paint was found to fade and look shabby, and when Tranz Rail, NZR's successor repainted their carriages in a blue livery in the early 1990s, Steam Incorporated reverted to the "Midland Red" paint scheme that had been used for most passenger carriages in New Zealand since the 1920s. Steam Incorporated own a variety of carriage types, such as five wide-bodied AA class 50 ft wooden passenger carriages with balcony ends. In 2008, these carriages were painted in "Pullman Green" for use in the North Island Main Trunk Railway centenary celebrations. In addition, Steam Inc. have a number of 50-foot and 56-foot steel-clad passenger carriages, one of which has been converted for use as a buffet/souvenir car. The active fleet stands at twelve fully restored and mainline certified carriages, with one currently under restoration, one awaiting mainline certification and nine stored (4).
Along with carriages, the society owns a number of guards vans and former goods wagons, some of which are certified for mainline operation as locomotive service wagons.
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Pre-TMS number | TMS number | Builder | Type | Year built | Year arrived | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 1859 | A 56916 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Last 56-foot First Class car in original Main Trunk condition. Equipped with pressure ventilation. Purchased by Keith Magnussen in 1983, later donated to Steam Incorporated. Stored awaiting restoration.[3] [4] | |||
| A 1868 | AS 56073 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Ex-Auckland charter fleet, used as a servery car. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013.[5] [6] Currently under restoration. | |||
| A 1870 | A 56105 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Surplus ex-Auckland suburban service in 1996. Sold to Waitara Railway Preservation Society, and stored at Brixton until 2010 when sold to Steam Incorporated. Currently stored. | |||
| A 1902 | A 56156 A 2317 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Restored 2013 to 2014. Mainline certified.[7] [8] | |||
| A 1928 | A 3389 AS 2500 ASO 27 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | First 56-foot carriage rebuilt as a big window car in 1987, used as a survey car. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Currently stored. | |||
| A 1933 | A 3212 AO 221 | NZR Addington Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Purchased from The Great Journeys of New Zealand in 2018.[9] Currently stored in Middlemarch. | |||
| A 1942 | A 56453 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Surplus ex-Auckland suburban service in 1996. Under restoration, will be fitted with a South Island First Class-style Coupe compartment.[10] | |||
| A 1943 | A 56461 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Surplus ex-Auckland Suburban trains 1996. Sold to Gisborne City Vintage Railway, later on-sold to Waitara Railway Preservation Society. Sold to Steam Incorporated in 2010. Currently stored. | |||
| A 1947 | A 3239 AO 83 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Purchased from The Great Journeys of New Zealand in 2018, rear end observation car. Currently stored in Middlemarch. | |||
| A 1953 | A 56544 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Sold to Steam Inc. in 2008.[11] [12] Restoration completed in 2012.[13] Mainline certified.[14] | |||
| A 1962 | A 56333A 2234 | NZR Addington Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Mainline Certified. | |||
| A 1975 | A 3022 | 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | Owned by John and Rolf Christensen. Leased to Steam Inc., and arrived in June 2020. Mainline certified. | |||
| A 1989 | A 56769 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Surplus ex-Auckland suburban service 1996.[15] Restoration completed in 2003. Mainline certified.[16] | |||
| A 2011 | AB 3534 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage | Built as Vice Regal staff carriage A 2011. Later re-built as an AB buffet car for Endeavour service, later modified with reduced counter and additional seating. Withdrawn in 2007 and stored at Hutt Workhops. Purchased by Steam Inc. in 2008, and stored awaiting restoration. | |||
| AA 1025 | ? | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide body mainline carriage | Previously under ownership by Forest Lakes Camp, Otaki. Currently stored, awaiting overhaul. | |||
| AA 1030 | A 4012 (in Preservation) | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide body mainline carriage | Obtained as a derelict from Hutt Workshops. Restored in 1981.[17] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1071 | A 4029 (in Preservation) | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage | Withdrawn from NZR service in Auckland. Restored in 1977. First Steam Inc. carriage to be restored.[18] Returned to service in February 2007 after wood-work repairs.[19] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1073 | A 4035 (in Preservation) | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage | Withdrawn from NZR service in Auckland. Returned to service 1979, car still has original style pressed steel internal ceiling. Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1265 | A 4070 (in Preservation) | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage | Obtained as a derelict from Hutt Workshops. Restored and entered Steam Inc. service in 1981.[20] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1267 | A 4087 (in Preservation) | NZR Petone Workshops | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage | Obtained from Rotten Row at Marton, first carriage acquired by Steam Inc. Restored and entered Steam Inc. service in 1980. Still has original style pressed steel internal ceiling; first Steam Inc. car to be painted in red livery.[21] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1670 | ???? | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 50' vittron panels, balcony car | Obtained from Forest Lakes Camp, Otaki. Currently under restoration at Steam Incorporated's Depot. | |||
| AA 1618 | A 56006 | NZR Addington Workshops | 50' wooden body, steel panelled wide-body mainline carriage | One of the first batch of five 56-foot long carriages, originally built as a sleeping car. Restored as buffet and souvenir car by Steam Inc., entered service in 1984.[22] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1757 | A 50215 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage | Entered Steam Inc. service in 1984. Withdrawn in 1994 for a comprehensive overhaul, overhaul restarted in 2005 and re-entered service in 2009.[23] [24] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1769 | A 50274 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage | Built by NZR as a First Class car but later had Second Class seats installed with generous leg room. Entered Steam Inc. service in 1984.[25] Overhauled and returned to service in 1994.[26] Mainline certified. | |||
| AA 1783 | A 50290 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage | Entered Steam Inc. service in 1984, withdrawn in 2002 for a comprehensive overhaul. Overhaul begun 2012.[27] Restored in 2017. Mainline certified. | |||
| AL 1917 | AL 56255 AL 56066 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel-panelled mainline car-van | Converted to carvan at Otahuhu for suburban work in 1982, withdrawn in 1996. Sold to Steam Incorporated, former luggage compartment modified to provide space for loco support crew.[28] Restored in 1997. Mainline certified. |
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Pre-TMS number | TMS number | Builder | Type | Year built | Year arrived | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 524 | F 1164 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 50' wooden body guards van | Entered Steam Inc. service in 1988, withdrawn 1993. Currently used as a photographic display vehicle.[29] | |||
| F 609 | F 2391 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | 56' steel panelled guards van | Used on Southerner & Endeavour trains, then briefly used as a Way & Works vehicle. Stored awaiting future restoration. | |||
| FM 20 | FM 290 AG 239 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | 50' steel modular guards van | Owned by John and Rolf Christensen. Leased to Steam Inc., and arrived in June 2020. Rebuilt into an open observation van in 1994. Awaiting repainting. Mainline certified. | |||
| FM 1254 | Daewoo Heavy Industries | 50' steel modular guards van | Withdrawn by NZR in 1988. Sold to a private owner in 1989, and stored at the Mainline Steam Trust Parnell until 2008. Restored and entered Steam Inc. service in 2009. Last guards van in revenue freight use in Auckland area, still fitted with original interior.[30] [31] |
| Key: | In service | In service, Mainline Certified | Under overhaul/restoration | Stored | Static display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Pre-TMS number | TMS number | Builder | Type | Year built | Year arrived | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUB 1905 | EA 2443 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | Flat deck | Originally built at UB 948. Reclassified as EUB 1905 in May 1944. Formerly owned by the Craven Crane Group. Ownership to Steam Inc. in 2009. Stored. Runner wagon for Crane 200.[32] [33] | |||
| EUB 4184 | EA 2679 | NZR Hutt Workshops | Flat deck | c | Originally built as UB 1357 c1952. Reclassified as EUB 4184 in December 1975. Crane runner for Crane 200. Formerly owned by the Craven Crane Group. Ownership to Steam Inc. in 2009. Stored. | ||
| KP 1728 | KP 8815 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Box | c | Formerly owned by the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society. Ownership to Steam Inc. in July 2014. Stored.[34] | ||
| KP 2550 | KP 17568 E 8338 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Box | c | Formerly owned by the Craven Crane Group. Ownership to Steam Inc. in 2009. Stored. Reclassified as E 8338 in April 1990. | ||
| KP 3421 | KP 26822 E 7459 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Box | N/A | Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored. Reclassified as E 7459 in May 1985. | ||
| KS 4901 | KS 16024 E 8817 | NZR East Town Workshops | Box | N/A | Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored.[35] | ||
| LA 14411 | Metropolitan Cammell (assembled by NZR Addington Workshops)[36] | High side | N/A | Reclassified as E 4071 c1972. Stored. | |||
| LB 2581 | LB 6557 | Samsung Moolsan | High side | N/A | [37] | ||
| LBS 2355 | N/A | High side | N/A | N/A | |||
| M 1647 | N/A | Low side | N/A | N/A | Stored. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust.[38] | ||
| NA 1640 | NA 2056 NAK 6323 | NZR Addington Workshops | Flat deck | N/A | Reclassified as NAK in 1987.[39] Stored. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust.[40] | ||
| UB 326 | NZR Addington Workshops | Flat deck | c | Formerly owned by the Craven Crane Group. Ownership to Steam Inc. in 2009. Stored. | |||
| UC 802 | UC 162 | N/A | Tank | N/A | Stored.[41] | ||
| UC 804 | UC 185 | NZR Petone Workshops | Tank | N/A | Mainline certified. | ||
| UC 1294 | UC 2252 | NZR Addington Workshops | Tank | N/A | Stored. | ||
| UC 1315 | UC 2471 | NZR Addington Workshops | Tank | Restored 2001 to 2004.[42] Used to transport water. Mainline certified. | |||
| UC 1345 | UC 2816 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | Tank | N/A | Stored. | ||
| UR 2026 | UR 2563 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | Flat Deck | N/A | Used for transportation of coal. Mainline certified.[43] | ||
| XP 3032 | XP 733 E 6734 | NZR East Town Workshops | Ventilated Box | [44] | Reclassified as E 6734 in 1982. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored. | ||
| YC 755 | YC 602 | NZR East Town Workshops | Ballast | N/A | Stored.[45] | ||
| Z 331 | Z 814 | NZR Addington Workshops | Box | N/A | Stored.[46] | ||
| Z 341 | Z 913 | NZR Addington Workshops | Box | c | N/A | Stored. | |
| Z 370 | Z 1158 | NZR Otahuhu Workshops | Box | c | N/A | Stored. | |
| ZM 1203 | ZM 597 | NZR Addington Workshops | Box | N/A | Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored.[47] |
Steam Incorporated has operated or participated in excursions to almost all parts of the national railway network that has been open since the late 1970s. As one of the first organisations to operate a private carriage fleet, excursions have been run since 1978. During the early years of the society's existence, NZR would not permit heritage operators to use their own locomotives on the national network, thus limiting the society's locomotive activities to the area of The Engine Shed. Since 1985 however, this policy has been abandoned and Steam Incorporated have run the majority of their excursions using society-owned Steam and Diesel locomotives. Popular excursions have been through the central North Island, annual "Art Deco" expresses to Napier, to the centennial celebrations at Dunedin Railway Station in 2006, and to the centennial celebrations at Feilding in 2008. Some excursions are operated solely by Steam Incorporated crews with the society's own equipment (with the locomotive driver and fireman supplied by Kiwirail), while others have been in conjunction with other New Zealand preservation societies and their locomotives, such as the "double drivers" excursions featuring two KA class locomotives.
Some of the more notable involvements Steam Incorporated have had were in 1993 when KA 945 and Steam Inc carriages toured for 3 weeks around New Zealand on the "Crunchie Train", and in 2008 when Steam Incorporated operated the Parliamentary Special NIMT Centennial train on behalf of ONTRACK, using primarily Steam Incorporated carriages and a mix of Steam Inc. and other mainline certified locomotives.