Aa1025

Carriage details

• Weight in working order: 23 tonnes
• Overall length: 52 feet 6 inches
• Bogies: X25140 with SKF roller bearing axleboxes.

History

Aa1025 is now the oldest carriage in the Steam Incorporated collection. When originally built, it was one of a batch of twenty one vehicles of entirely new and modern design ordered in 1908 for use on the soon-to-be-completed North Island Main Trunk line. They had an all-steel underframe, windows a foot wider than anything then running, toilet facilities in a center compartment, and gas lighting. This was very modern equipment for the soon to be introduced express passenger service over the 685km between Wellington and Auckland.  Second Class car AA1025 had seating for 44 in two passenger compartments separated by the toilet compartment.

It was allocated to Wellington.

During its eraly life electric lighting was fitted and after the  Ongarure smash  newly devised anti-collision steel framing at each end intended to prevent telescoping in the event of an accident. were fitted. Also a newer design of bogie was fitted, with a longer wheelbase and improved ride characteristic, but still with plain axlebox bearings.

In this form the carriage continued in Main Trunk and Provincial passenger service up to the mid 1940's. By this time there were sufficient of the 56 foot steel carriage stock (built from the early 1930's) for use on the inter-city trains and Aa1025 was down graded for suburban use.

In Dec 1943 at Otahuhu  a further modification,  saw the carriage reconfigured with a single 51 seat passenger compartment and a single toilet at one end  Tare was now 21-15-1.  This is the layout (Diagram50) of our other similar open platform cars that are in operation.  She ran in this form for a further thirty years.

Signage after seating increased to 51

 AA1025 was withdrawn from service in Wellington on 10th May 1972.  She was written off at Hutt in October 1972. AA1025 then went to serve as a bunk car at the Forest Lakes Camp near Otaki.  When it became surplus to the requirements of the camp the Forest Lakes Camp dontated the car to Steam Incorporated.

AA1025 at Forest Lakes Camp

 

AA1025 arriving at Paekakariki on 25th Nov 2022.

Thanks to Juliet Scoble for the use of her detailed research notes.