The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 6 (September 2, 1935)
Wellington-New Plymouth Night Service
Wellington-New Plymouth Night Service.
“The Board has also decided,” said Mr. Mackley, “to use rail-cars for a night service between Wellington and New Plymouth. Three cars are required for this service. They will be heavier and of greater capacity than the rail-cars on the Wairarapa line, as their construction is not subject to factors which have to be considered in operating traffic over the Rimutaka Incline
“Each car will weigh 28 tons, fully loaded (as compared with the 15 tons of the Rimutaka type rail-car), and will carry 56 passengers and up to 1 ton of luggage. Worked by two 10-litre engines the car will be capable of 70 miles per hour.
“These cars will have smoking and non-smoking compartments, but otherwise, so far as the passengers are concerned, the equipment will be similar to that arranged for the Wairarapa rail-cars. The cars for the Wellington-New Plymouth run will, however, have four-wheeled bogies at each end, and two pairs of driving wheels.
“When a tri-weekly express-train service was tried out between Wellington and New Plymouth for a few months in 1930, although the service had to be discontinued (along with many other services) owing to the financial position, the trains had been fairly well patronized and it was considered that the service might well be reinstated when the general position improved.
“With the general advantages in the quality of service and economy of operation to be secured by rail-cars, of the type described, in the matter of comfort, speed, cleanliness, and general attractiveness, the Board feels confident that the service will be popular and quite self-supporting. It has therefore been decided to run rail-cars six nights a week (Sunday to Friday inclusive) in both directions, as soon as the vehicles, now on order, are available.
“The rail-cars will run to leave Wellington at 11 p.m. and arrive New Plymouth at 6.32 a.m. (a total of 7 ½ hours for the journey), and from New Plymouth leaving at 10.48 p.m. and arriving Wellington 6.30 a.m. (approximately 7 ¾ hours for the journey). The present time by the day expresses averages 9 3/4 hours.”