Special services stimulate rail travel

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33693, 16 November 1974, Page 12

Special services stimulate rail travel

A number of special passenger services introduced by New Zealand Railways have done something to revive the popularity of what was once the major means of travel in the Dominion.

Four of these return services are in the North Island; all originate in Wellihgton. The South Island has two special services, one of which is purely a seasonal, tourist run.

Of the North Island specials, two are. rail-cars — the Silver Fern on the Wellington-Auckland route; and the Blue Streak (Wellington to New Plymouth). The others are the Silver Star, which is the Welling-ton-Auckland sleeper; and the Endeavour — the Wel-lington-Napier express. The South Island has, of course, the Southerner express on the ChristchurchInvercargill main trunk; and the “Kingston Flyer” running between Lumsden and Kingston in the summer months. The Kingston Flyer is a ‘‘train” in the old senses The tourists flock to it. Designed to represent typical rail travel of the early 19205, it consists of five old-style passenger cars hauled by an “Ab” 1 class steam locomotive. The two “Ab”s chosen for the Kingston Flyer service, Nos. 778 and 795, were built at Addington in 1925 and Hillside in 1927 respectively. For service on the Kingston Flyer they have been finished in glossy black with polished brasswork, white-rimmed wheels, and red-fluted siderods.

More than 40 carriages in varying condition were inspected for their suitability. Many had desirable features such as embossed ceilings, scroll-type net rack brackets, and fluted finishing timbers, but were structurally unsound. On the other hand many other cars had modem features that were not typical of the 19205. The vehicles now in service on the Kingston Flyer are a combination of many parts from a variety of sources. Gallery car Minor changes have been made in the interests of hygiene, comfort, and safety. For example, all the cars now have steel underframes, and vinyl-covered foam rubber has replaced leather and horsehair upholstery. Spittoons, however, once a feature of N.Z.R. passenger cars, have not been introduced. The old N.Z.R. livery was revived for the service — pullman green sides and ends, white roofs, gold lining, and black underframes and running gear. This livery was adopted in 1906 and was used until 1926, when it was replaced by Midland red.

The five cars consist of a gallery or “birdcage” car, three standard day cars typical of N.Z.R. coachbuilding in the earlier years of this century, and a refreshment car.

The gallery car, one of five built in 1899 and 1900, is a curious colonial version of the side corridor compartment car common in Europe. The heavy steel grille, used in place of a wooden outer wall, permitted wider compartments — an important consideration with the narrow tunnels on New Zealand’s railway system. This gallery car was built as a first-class car. Its five compartments with studded leather seats made it extemely popular and in its heyday it was considered the acme of rail travel.

Each compartment seats six and has its own drop table and gaslight fittings.

The passenger cars used on Southerner expresses between Christchurch and Invercargill are former first-class cars that have been completely refur-, bished. They have Wall-to-wall carpet, flourescent lighting, new seats, an up-to-date colour scheme, and a new heating and ventilation system.

The armchair-style seats, which have adjustable, four-position reclining backs, have foam-rubber cushions and are upholstered in teal blue stretch vinvl..

The interior walls are finished in beige vynide to match the gold carpet, and the ceilings are white formica. The train is lit by fluorescent lights > Each train normally comprises seven vehicles: three smoking cars, a buffet car, two non-smoking cars, and a guard’s van. These are seats for 153 passengers.

Externally the rolling stock is finished in a rich blue with a waistband in a lighter shade of arctic blue edged with thin golden yellow lining. The underframes and bogies are black, and the roofs are white. Softer seats Wearing their distinctive livery of zenith blue with alpine violet bands along the body, the twin-unit Blue Streak rail-cars first entered service between Hamilton and Auckland in April, 1968. With new, softer seats, carpets, hostesses, refreshments, and a public-address system, they introduced a new standard of passenger service to New Zealand Railways.

Unsuccessful on this short route, the rail-cars were transferred to the Wellington-Auckland run. On this service they were an instant success. Soon after the Blue Streak rail-cars entered this service they were licenced. For the first time liquor was served on a regular passenger service in New Zealand. Such was the success of the Blue Streak rail-cars that three rail-cars of the latest design were ordered from Japan to take over the route.

From December 14, 1972,

the new rail-cars — named the Silver Fern service — took over on the AucklandWellington route, and the Blue Streak rail-cars began running between Wellington and New Plymouth.

The Silver Star air-condi-tioned sleeping-car trains between Wellington and Auckland run on six days a week, Sunday to Friday inclusive. They leave Auck-. land and Wellington at 8 p.m. and arrive at opposite terminals at 8.30 a.m.

Six stops Only six stops are made en route.

The Silver Star stock, built in Japan for $3.5m and supplied by Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd, consists of 12 twinette sleeping cars, 12 roomette cars, three buffet cars, and four power and luggage vans. Twinette and roomette cars have 16 berths each. Normally each train consists of five roomette cars, five twinette cars, a buffet car, and a power-luggage van — 12 vehicles in all. Fifteen minutes after •departure cabin service is available. The cabins steward shows passengers how to prepare the cabin for night use.

This is very easy. In the twinette a handle above the triple seats (there is a spare seat for a guest) is turned, and the upper berth folds down already made up. Another handle lower down folds down the seat back to reveal the lower berth, also made up.

Above the window is a handle which adjusts a Venetian blind within the double-glazed window, By each berth are magazine holders, a fold-out tray, an ash tray, a reading light, and a service button for calling the steward.

There is also a wardrobe for each berth, a luggage compartment, an illuminated mirror and toiletry shelf, a shaver socket, a heater in case the pre-set air conditioner needs supplementing, a refuse container, and a compartment in which shoes are left for collection and cleaning. A door inside each twinette leads to a shower cubicle. Inside this cubicle there is also a foldaway wash basin with hot and cold water, a foldaway flush toilet, and a sealed

wardrobe which contains towefe. There is also a de luxe suite in one twinette on each train.

This suite, as large as two twinette cabins, has a fixed double bed, a folding single bed, armchairs, and a coffee table as well as a shower and toilet cubicle.

Between 8.15 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. passengers may order liquor in their cabins. The buffet car is also open for drinks as well as dinner and supper, but closes at 11 p.m. The steward will serve supper of tea or coffee and biscuits to cabins. From 7 a.m. onwards the steward will also bring continental breakfasts and morning papers. Supper, breakfast, and paper are included in the fare. The buffet car Is in the middle of the train. The menu is comprehensive and caters for both dinner and a supper more substantial than coffee and biscuits. A crew of 15 mans the Silver Star: a guard, a head steward, 9 stewards, a cook, an engine driver, an engine driver’s assistant, and a train fitter. The Endeavour, New Zealand Railways latest ex, press passenger train, entered service between Wellington and Napier on November 6, 1972.—New Zealand Railways Information Service.