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Story: Bush trams and other log transport

Piha tramway

Image
Piha tramway

At the beginning of the 20th century the introduction of steel rails meant that tracks could be built on steep grades, with sharp curves. This famous tramway along the wild surf coast of Piha, near Auckland, carried kauri logs to the Piha sawmill. Its major period of activity was 1910–21.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Albert Percy Godber Collection (PA-Group-00048)

Reference: APG-0351-1/2; G

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

Paul Mahoney, Bush trams and other log transport – Lokeys, bogies and rail tractors, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12232/piha-tramway (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Mahoney, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

kaitlyn
28 June 2010
what was the real reason of the piha tramway to disappear was ? well what was it ? we will never no but i have good instinct it was the law of selfishness thats the real reason?