Story: Rural services

Goods train

Goods train

A goods train hauling sheep wagons and other carriages crosses a viaduct, in the 1920s. Trains could carry larger amounts of farm produce and reach destinations more quickly than other modes of transport until the 1920s. However building railways over New Zealand’s often rugged terrain was a challenge, as lines had to have a gentle gradient. Viaducts were the solution for bridging deep gorges, common in parts of the North Island.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Albert Percy Godber Collection (PA-Group-00048)
Reference: APG-2018-1/2-G
Photograph by Albert Percy Godber

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Rural services - Railways', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18549/goods-train (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 24 Nov 2008