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Story: Railways

Changing engines

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The advantages of diesel and electric engines over steam locomotives are described in this 1956 film clip. By the mid-1950s diesel engines were well established, but only two South Island tunnels and Wellington's commuter lines were electrified.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: New Zealand Railway Magazine. National Film Unit, 1956

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Neill Atkinson, Railways – Diesel and electric trains, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/21394/changing-engines (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 6 April 2010.