Our Other Rolling Stock

The WMRT have recently become the proud owners of an ex WMR 4 wheel freight wagon, believed to be one of the high side open wagons of the L class. It is one of approximately 6 known surviving WMR freight wagons, the others being members of the L and M class. Other partially complete survivors can be found at the Ferrymead Railway and Steam Rail Wanganui, while a complete L survives at a private residence in the Wairarapa.

Our L is believed to have been built sometime between 1901 and 1906 at the WMR's Thorndon workshops, the range in dates being gained from three different years being cast into the four horn blocks!

The wagon is missing its body sides, drawbar, couplings and Westinghouse brake gear. Most of the floorboards will require replacement, but the timber framing and ironwork is in reasonable condition. The original axle box covers bearing the letters 'WMR' and year of construction have also disappeared.

The wagon was saved from rotten row at Hutt workshops by members of the Silver Stream Railway, and has sat outside their depot for a number of years. Trust member John Vannisselroy arranged the purchase of the L from the SSR, and has located several relevant drawings. Although restoration plans are yet to be finalised, the wagon will complement locomotive No. 9 well, and will eventually join the locomotive at Steam Incorporated's Paekakariki base.

Other Preserved W.M.R. Rolling Stock

The WMRT is by no means the only organisation which owns rolling stock from the Wellington & Manawatu Railway Company, we feature more in depth information on each piece shown below in our newsletters.

* Passenger cars #48 & #52 are both at the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society's (NZRLS) workshop at the Silver Stream Railway (SSR) in Lower Hutt, Wellington. They are both undergoing extensive restoration and will emerge looking as they were over a century ago.

* Ferrymead Vintage Railway in Christchurch also has a small four wheeled wagon like the SSR and it was recently being used as a storage place for an F-Class locomotives stripped frames.

This is an incomplete list as we do not have up to date information on all ex-WMR rolling stock which still survives but we will be updating this section with new info as it comes to hand.