Promoting the North Island Main Trunk Railway to tourists

 

North Island Main Trunk Railway Route of "The Scenic Daylight" (1969)

History of the North Island Main Trunk Railway (1969)

Northern half of Main Trunk Railway map (1969)

Southern half of Main Trunk Railway map (1969)

North Island Main Trunk Railway - Route of the Silver Star and Silver Fern (1975)

History of the Main Trunk Railway (1975)

Northern half of the Main Trunk Railway (1975)

Southern half of the Main Trunk Railway (1975)

North Island Main Trunk Railway (1983)

Historic Main Trunk Railway (1983)

Northern half of the Main Trunk Railway (1983)

Southern half of the Main Trunk Railway (1983)

Although daytime trains on the North Island Main Trunk railway date back to 1925, a daily service, year-round did not start until the Scenic Daylight replaced the Daylight Limited in 1960 and became diesel-hauled from 1963 (significantly accelerating the travel time of the service).  The Railways Department saw the train as an opportunity to promote tourist travel for the purposes of viewing the scenery rather than just a mode of transport, so leaflets started to be produced explaining the route, the history of it and its scenic highlights.  Above are three different such leaflets published in different decades (1960s, 1970s and 1980s), reflecting the history of the line changing over those decades.

1969

The first one was published in 1969 when the Scenic Daylight was still operating, but supplemented by the recently commenced Blue Streak railcar service three-days a week (the latter with on-board hostess service with light refreshments - the Scenic Daylight had no on-board service, but stopped at stations for refreshments).  That leaflet also explains the evolution of locomotive power on the line until that date, highlighting the DA Class diesel locomotives that were the mainstay of North Island rail services until the early 1970s saw them supplanted by the much more powerful DX Class (and from 1978 refurbished into the DC Class).  Of course the front page of the leaflet shows an artistic depiction of a DA Class locomotive at speed.  The section on history of the main trunk also highlights the Raurimu Spiral (separately depicted with an aerial photo), tunnels and viaducts, but also the history of passenger rail services. Early main trunk passenger services took 19.25 hours between Wellington and Auckland, accelerating to 17.5 hours in 1914 and then 14.25 hours in 1924 when the Night Limited overnight services were introduced. Travel time of the Scenic Daylight was noted as being 12.75 hours!  

There is a generous depiction of the rolling stock used in the 1960s "electrically lit, steam heated and equipped with foam-rubber seats and two toilet compartments".  Noting sleeping cars and first class cars (the Scenic Daylight would have had two class accommodation).  Also described was the shift from steam to diesel for the Night Limited in 1963, reducing travel time to 13.5 hours, and in 1965 remaining expresses "which serve numerous on-line communities" (yes not the modern use of the term!) shifted to diesel.  It was noted that the North Island Main Trunk carried 40% of all railway traffic in the country!

The map and images depicting the route contain a fair bit of history for the traveller.  Auckland's population of 565,000! The Mangaweka Viaduct, bypassed by deviation in 1983, and Hapuawhenua Viaduct replaced by deviation in 1986. Also shown are numerous branch lines now closed or cutback, such as Waiuku, Thames, Cambridge, Rotorua, the old East Coast Main Trunk (pre-Kaimai deviation) and Raetihi.  The whole leaflet is a curious snapshot of New Zealand in 1969.

1975

By 1975 passenger service on the Main Trunk had been significantly improved. The front of this leaflet has gone from highlighting a DA Class locomotive to a 70's style depiction of a steward serving drinks on one of the two modern name trains of the age.  The train image is undoubtedly the Silverstar, luxury night sleeper express with a silver of the yellow/orange coloured DX Class locomotive.  However, passengers on the Silverstar would almost certainly never see the mountains in the depiction, that would be for the Silverfern service which replaced both the Blue Streak and Scenic Daylight in 1972.  

Other elements of the leaflet have been updated, from the metrication of the Raurimu Spiral aerial photo to  replacing the written description of locomotive history with a series of photos, ending with a DX Class hauling a Silverstar.

The description of history no longer comments glowingly on the 56ft carriages but rather:

"today the Silver Fern daytime express diesel-electric rallcars take less than 11 hours, and the heavy Silver Star sleeping-car expresses cover the journey overnight in 12½ hours Both the "Silver Fern'' and "Silver Star' services are fully air-conditioned. Other overnight express trains serve numerous on-line communities"

Note at the time, the Night Limited was still operating, as the Northerner had yet to be introduced, so the steam-heated Night Limited (with no on-board catering) was the main stopping service, whereas the Silver Star and Silver Fern were considered the premier services.  Some of the photos have been replaced and there is more colour, with images of a Silver Fern and a Silver Star service included (albeit the latter shown near Paraparaumu in summer).  This leaflet highlights more of the scenery and a little less of the history of the previous edition.

1983

By 1983 NZR had gone from being a Department to a Corporation, and this leaflet has gone from depicting trains and scenery artistically to a three page photo. The Main Trunk history no longer talks at all about train travel times or comfort, but does mention the Mangaweka Deviation which was only just opened at the time of this leaflet, although no mention is made at all of the subsequent electrification.  One image of the South Rangitikei Viaduct with a Silver Fern railcar on it is notable. No longer is there a depiction of locomotive history either.  

The map is now with a photographic background, and stylised to just show the main trunk line. The new Porootarao Tunnel (opened 1980) is noted, but the Raurimu Spiral is mentioned, but with no aerial map.  This leaflet corresponds with the Silver Fern service and the overnight Northerner, although it is unclear if it was regularly supplied to passengers on the former.

Today?

The North Island Main Trunk Railway remains one of the great scenic trips by rail in New Zealand, with the Northern Explorer sustaining service. However, how well publicised is it? It certainly stops much less frequently that its predecessor services.