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Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki railway station, Paekakariki at the southern end of the Kapiti 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 (e.g. the Kingston Flyer on the Kingston Branch or the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway on the Fairlie Branch), Steam Incorporated own 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.

History of the depot

Paekakariki's close association with the railway began in 1886 when the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line from Wellington to Longburn opened. Paekakariki 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 Paekakariki, while lighter and more nimble ones were better suited to the gentle grades and straight track through the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua to Manawatu. The New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway in December 1908, but Paekakariki's status as an important depot remained unchanged. In 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekakariki was electrified and Paekakariki's depot was altered: it became the changeover point from electric to steam motive power, or electric to diesel from the 1950s onwards. Paekakariki also was an important goods transfer point between the Railways and its "Rail Air" service that operated out of Paraparaumu across Cook Strait, before the Rail ferries. A large goods shed was constructed at Paekakariki by U.S. Marines stationed in the area for use with the Rail Air service during World War II. In the late 1960s with steam power coming to an end, the locomotive depot in Paekakariki was closed and the diesel locomotives which replaced steam were based out of Wellington instead. The main engine shed was demolished along with a number of 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 & 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 however the railways retain a right of access to the turntable.

Steam Incorporated

As steam 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 NZR main line network. At the time, all locomotives that had been preserved were solely for use on heritage railways or for static display, and as the NZR sold locomotives on the proviso that they would never again run on the NZR network, it was a radical concept. However Steam Incorporated was formed and locomotives were purchased by the society or for the society by members.

List of Locomotives

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
DA 1410 General Motors 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 breif time until 1980. Arrived at Paekakariki on 1st of April 2021
DS 202 Drewry 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.
K 917 NZR Hutt Workshops 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 1975 First KA built. Purchased by Len Southward, loaned and later donated to Steam Inc. Restored to operating condition in 1985, withdrawn in 1995. Work has started on 945 to return it to working order.
Ohai Railway Board NO 2 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1476 1967 1992 Active Depot Shunt locomotive Owned by Russell Gibbard.
Tr 160 A & G Price 182 1958 2015 Active Depot Shunt locomotive, Privately Owned
WF 386 NZR Addington Workshops 66 1905 1978 Previously statically displayed at Taumarunui. Previously owned by Taumarunui District Council, some overhaul work was carried out but overhauled stopped due to lack of interest. WF 386 is currently stored in the carriage shed at Paekakariki.

In addition:

  • J 1211 and KA 942, now of Mainline Steam were originally stored at Paekakariki before restoration in the Auckland area.
  • WMR #9/N 453 owned by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust is currently based at Steam Incorporated, with some work having been carried out towards its restoration.
  • NRZ 15A class Garratt 398, owned by the Flying Fifteen Locomotive Society arrived at Steam Incorporated in May 2011. The locomotive is being prepared for long-term storage, however the group have eventual plans to run it on the main line.
  • 1909-built 0-4-0T Barclay #1181, acquired from Len Southward in the 1970s was owned by the group until it was sold in 2012 to a private owner for restoration, based at the Silver Stream Railway.
  • A&G Price rail tractor NO 152 was bought by Steam Incorporated in 1978. It was rendered surplus to the group's requirements in 1994 and is now with the Ormondville Rail Preservation Group.
  • DSA 305 was purchased by Steam Incorporated in 1986 from the NZR. It was used until 1994 when it was sold to the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, and has since been on-sold to a private owner at Cable Bay.
  • The remains of WB 292 and WB 299, owned by Hugh McCracken, were stored at Paekakariki from 1989 until 2013 when they were moved to the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust depot at Maymorn for eventual restoration.

Rolling stock

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 main line 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 main line operation as locomotive service wagons.

Carriages

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 1938 1984 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.
A 1868 AS 56073 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1937 2013 Ex-Auckland charter fleet, used as a servery car. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Currently under restoration.
A 1870 A 56105 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1937 2010 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 1938 2013 Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Restored 2013 to 2014. Mainline certified.
A 1928 A 3389

AS 2500
ASO 27

NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1939 2013 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 1939 Purchased from The Great Journeys of New Zealand in 2018. Currently stored in Middlemarch.
A 1942 A 56453 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1939 1996 Surplus ex-Auckland suburban service in 1996. Under restoration, will be fitted with a South Island First Class-style Coupe compartment.
A 1943 A 56461 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1939 2010 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 1939 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 1939 2008 Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Sold to Steam Inc. in 2008. Restoration completed in 2012. Mainline certified.
A 1962 A 56333

A 2234

NZR Addington Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1940 2013 Ex-Auckland charter fleet. Purchased from KiwiRail Scenic Journeys in 2013. Currently in finishing stages of overhaul.
A 1975 A 3022 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1945 2020 Owned by John and Rolf Christensen. Leased to Steam Inc., and arrived in June 2020. Awaiting repainting. Mainline certified.
A 1989 A 56769 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1943 1996 Surplus ex-Auckland suburban service 1996. Restoration completed in 2003. Mainline certified.
A 2011 AB 3534 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline carriage 1939 2008 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 1030 A 4012 (in Preservation) NZR Petone Workshops 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage 1909 1977 Obtained as a derelict from Hutt Workshops. Restored in 1981. Mainline certified.
AA 1071 A 4029 (in Preservation) NZR Petone Workshops 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage 1909 1977 Withdrawn from NZR service in Auckland. Restored in 1977. First Steam Inc. carriage to be restored. Returned to service in February 2007 after wood-work repairs. Mainline certified.
AA 1073 A 4035 (in Preservation) NZR Petone Workshops 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage 1909 1977 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 1912 1977 Obtained as a derelict from Hutt Workshops. Restored and entered Steam Inc. service in 1981. Mainline certified.
AA 1267 A 4087 (in Preservation) NZR Petone Workshops 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline carriage 1912 1976 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. Mainline certified.
AA 1618 A 56006 NZR Addington Workshops 50' wooden body, steel panelled wide-body mainline carriage 1927 1982 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. Mainline certified.
AA 1757 A 50215 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage 1932 1983 Entered Steam Inc. service in 1984. Withdrawn in 1994 for a comprehensive overhaul, overhaul restarted in 2005 and re-entered service in 2009. Mainline certified.
AA 1769 A 50274 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage 1932 1981 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. Overhauled and returned to service in 1994. Mainline certified.
AA 1783 A 50290 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 50' steel-panelled wide-body mainline carriage 1933 1983 Entered Steam Inc. service in 1984, withdrawn in 2002 for a comprehensive overhaul. Overhaul begun 2012. Restored in 2017. Mainline certified.
AL 1917 AL 56255
AL 56066
NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline car-van 1939 1996 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. Restored in 1997. Mainline certified.

Guards vans

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 1930 1986 Entered Steam Inc. service in 1988, withdrawn 1993. Currently used as a photographic display vehicle.
F 609 F 2391 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel panelled guards van 1944 1990 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 1977 2020 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 1981 2008 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.

Wagons

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 1938 1993 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.
EUB 4184 EA 2679 NZR Hutt Workshops Flat deck c1952 1993 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 1964 c1993 Formerly owned by the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society. Ownership to Steam Inc. in July 2014. Stored.
KP 2550 KP 17568

E 8338

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Box 1966 c1993 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 1968 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 1971 N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored.
LA 14411 Metropolitan Cammell (assembled by NZR Addington Workshops) High side 1938 N/A Reclassified as E 4071 c1972. Stored.
LB 2581 LB 6557 Samsung Moolsan High side 1976 N/A
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.
NA 1640 NA 2056

NAK 6323

NZR Addington Workshops Flat deck 1977 N/A Reclassified as NAK in 1987. Stored. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust.
UB 326 NZR Addington Workshops Flat deck 1913 c1993 Formerly owned by the Craven Crane Group. Ownership to Steam Inc. in 2009. Stored.
UC 802 UC 162 N/A Tank 1927 N/A Stored.
UC 804 UC 185 NZR Petone Workshops Tank 1928 N/A Mainline certified.
UC 1294 UC 2252 NZR Addington Workshops Tank 1949 N/A Stored.
UC 1315 UC 2471 NZR Addington Workshops Tank 1954 2001 Restored 2001 to 2004. Used to transport water. Mainline certified.
UC 1345 UC 2816 NZR Otahuhu Workshops Tank 1964 N/A Stored.
UR 2026 UR 2563 NZR Otahuhu Workshops Flat Deck 1964 N/A Used for transportation of coal. Mainline certified.
XP 3032 XP 733

E 6734

NZR East Town Workshops Ventilated Box 1966 1988 Reclassified as E 6734 in 1982. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored.
YC 755 YC 602 NZR East Town Workshops Ballast 1960 N/A Stored.
Z 331 Z 814 NZR Addington Workshops Box 1944 N/A Stored.
Z 341 Z 913 NZR Addington Workshops Box c1944 N/A Stored.
Z 370 Z 1158 NZR Otahuhu Workshops Box c1946 N/A Stored.
ZM 1203 ZM 597 NZR Addington Workshops Box 1975 N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. Stored.
Locomotives Ja 1271 and Ab 608 'Passchendaele' pulling historic carriages on Steam Inc's 'Double Thunder' excursion
Locomotives Ja 1271 and Ab 608 pulling historic carriages on Steam Inc's 2015 "Double Thunder" excursion

Excursions

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.

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