The First Locomotives.

The Lyttelton-Christchurch Railway was built to the British standard of construction, the rails being laid in iron chairs fastened to the sleepers and held in position in the chairs by wooden wedges known as “keys.” The rails were 18ft. long, and have been variously stated as weighing 75lb., 72lb. and 70lb. to the yard, but were referred to officially as 70lb. rails.

The first locomotive arrived at Ferry-mead on 6th May, 1863, and a second of the same class on 18th April, 1864. These were tank engines weighing approximately 30 tons each. They had four coupled and two leading wheels (type 2–4–0). The driving wheels were 5ft 6in. in diameter. (When the contract for the Great South Line was let, two more engines of the same description were ordered).