Railway tunnels - New Zealand - West Coast Region

Date: 1970-1971

By: New Zealand Railways

Reference: Eph-A-RAIL-1970/1971

Description: Includes advertising pamphlets for the Express railcar (1970), Silver Star (1971); the Southerner and its buffet car service (1970 and 1971) Includes various pamphlets on bulk travel vouchers, the Rimutaka Incline, and Raurimu Spiral railways, the Kaimai Railway deviation, a pamphlet about the Silver Stream Railway (1971), a Kingston Flyer ticket. Also includes timetables for the Paekakariki Line (November 1971 Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Photolithographs, sizes varying under 250 mm

Date: 1972

By: New Zealand Railways

Reference: Eph-A-RAIL-1972

Description: Includes advertising pamphlets for the Silver Star, the Blue Streak, the Silver Fern, the Endeavour scenic express between Wellington and Napier, and the Kingston Flyer. Includes various pamphlets: a guide to the Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Museum, bulk travel vouchers. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Photolithographs, sizes varying under 250 mm

Date: 1917

By: Empson, Estelle, active 2000

Reference: PAColl-6121

Description: Arthurs Pass/Otira tunnel and the first passengers to go through on the 21 July 1917. Also a photograph of a bach at Lake Moana with Ernest Empson in front. Quantity: 4 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1900 - 1923

By: Wood, P, active 1890s

Reference: PAColl-0678

Description: Photographs of: the construction of the Otira Tunnel including one of a large group of construction workers in the tunnel itself; a view looking down at the entrance to the tunnel from Mount Barron; a view from the opposite side of the valley from Mount Barron looking down on the construction area; three photographs of the Kowai railway viaduct under construction; a bridge on the Ohakune Raetihi Railway; the opening of the Gisborne Railway at Gisborne Railway Station ca 1900 with a large crowd on the tracks and platform; a man in uniform on a horse, possibly C E J Bell, with a wagon in the background and the caption Klerksdorf M. Streams Rly 1904 on the reverse; and a Christmas card produced by the Midland Railway using a montage of photographs of railway construction and the message `With Best Wishes for the New Year from Paterson's Creek Springfield District The Midland Railway Canterbury PWD No. 0/1903'. Quantity: 11 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s).

Date: [Circa 1890s-1920s]

From: Kennedy, William Alexander, 1865-1950 :Photographs of the Southern Alps area

By: Beck, Dick, active 1895; Beken, Charles Albert, 1859-1944; Frazer, William D, active 1920s-1940s; Grace, W, active 1890s; Kennedy, William Alexander, 1865-1950; Lee, A A, active 1920s?; Manson, (Mr), active 1920s; Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972; Peart, Heaton Clairemont, 1894-1991

Reference: PAColl-0959-25

Description: Photographs of mountains and valleys in the Arthur's Pass National Park, including numbers of views of the Otira Tunnel under construction, with interior and exterior views. Various photographers have been identified, some with only their surname. They include H C Peart, A A Lee, [?] Manson, [?] Beck, T.C., John Pascoe, W D Frazer, [?] Barrett, and C Beken. From information about William Alexander Kennedy it appears that a large number of the photographs were taken by him, taking groups of former students on mountaineering trips. Many of the images show groups of young people, none of whom are identified, taken circa 1925-1926. (See article at http://www/nzine.co.nz/features/wak.html) Many of the images show winter views including icicles formed on waterfalls, frozen spray on twigs, and one with frozen spume near the Otira Tunnel. Image no. 25 shows an undentified woman standing at the foot of a semi-frozen waterfall, and image no. 64 shows an undentified woman wearing a woollen coat with fur collar and a felt hat, looking at icicles in Arthur's Pass. Image no. 43 shows "The Birches" in winter, near the summit of Arthur's pass on the Bealey side. Image no. 65 shows four women and a men with armfuls of mountain lilies in Arthur's pass. Images no. 70-71 show a small ferry [?] by the pier at Lake Brunner. Image no. 89 shows three men and a dog standing near a mountain hut, with a camera on a tripod. Most of the places shown are listed above. Other Titles - Arthur's Pass National Park Quantity: 150 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints. Finding Aids: Typescript inventory of this box held in Photographic Archive backfile under "Kennedy, William Alexander.".

Date: 1908

By: Dick, R (Miss), active 1981

Reference: PAColl-0331

Description: Three photographs of men working on the construction of the Otira Tunnel between Arthur's Pass and Otira. Two of them show the horse drawn wagons on rails used to take away the debris and the third shows seven men operating what may be a pump with shovels next to them against the tunnel wall. Photographer unidentified.d The Otira Tunnel is the third largest in New Zealand and the longest in the South Island. It is 8566m long, has a continuous 1 in 33 grade and was opened in 1923. Arrangement: Negatives housed at 1/2-056628 to 056630 Quantity: 3 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Mounted photographic prints

Date: [ca 1880s-1920s]

From: The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives

Reference: 1/2-040942-G

Description: Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer employed or contracted by 'The Press' newspaper of Christchurch. Source of descriptive information - Negative registers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative, ½ plate Processing information: The collection description was updated in November 2020 with information regarding commercial use of the photographs.

Date: [ca 1920]

From: The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives

Reference: 1/1-008424-G

Description: Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer employed or contracted by 'The Press' newspaper of Christchurch. Source of descriptive information - Negative registers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative, 6.5 x 8.5 inches Processing information: The collection description was updated in November 2020 with information regarding commercial use of the photographs.

Date: [ca 1880s-1920s]

From: The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives

Reference: 1/2-040941-G

Description: Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer employed or contracted by 'The Press' newspaper of Christchurch. Source of descriptive information - Negative registers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative, 1/2 plate Processing information: The collection description was updated in November 2020 with information regarding commercial use of the photographs.

Date: [ca 1914]

From: The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives

Reference: 1/1-011955-G

Description: Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer employed or contracted by 'The Press' newspaper of Christchurch. Source of descriptive information - Negative registers. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative, 6.5 x 8.5 inches Processing information: The collection description was updated in November 2020 with information regarding commercial use of the photographs.

Date: [ca 1920]

From: Hunter Brown : Negatives

Reference: 1/1-013266-G

Description: Buildings and railroad wagons around the entrance to the Otira Tunnel. Probably taken at the time the tunnel was being constructed, ca 1920s. The Otira tunnel was opened on 4 August 1923. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: ca 1920

From: The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives

Reference: 1/1-008425-G

Description: Crowd at Otira tunnel, circa 1920. Occasion, and photographer, unidentified. Press newspaper photograph. Historical notes supplied by Library client, June 2011. This unidentified event happened before the completion and opening of the tunnel for electric trains on the 4th of August 1923. The narrow guage tram track used during construction is still in place. The pipe on the left hand side of the wall for water or air supply during construction was removed when the project was complete. The 1500 volt traction overhead catenary wires used for the locomotives, and the portal latice structure over the entrance supporting some of the wires, is not yet in place. (information from Library client.) Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negative Processing information: The collection description was updated in November 2020 with information regarding commercial use of the photographs.

Date: 4 Aug 1923

From: Making New Zealand :Negatives and prints from the Making New Zealand Centennial collection

Reference: MNZ-1691-1/4-F

Description: Photograph of a crowd standing beside the railroad tracks at the opening of the Otira Tunnel on 4 August 1923. Attendants include: Sir Joseph Ward, 2nd from left; Thomas Wilford, 5th from left; Evan Parry, 6th from left facing William Massey, centre; Gordon Coates, holding coat; George Forbes, far right. Photographer unidentified. Publication note - Department of Internal Affairs. 1940. `Making New Zealand'. 2(17): 14 Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative Provenance: Photograph from William Walter Stewart for the Department of Internal Affairs' publication `Making New Zealand' (1939-40).

Date: 1923

By: British and Intercolonial Exhibition (1923-1924 : Hokitika, N.Z.); Hokitika guardian (Newspaper)

Reference: Eph-D-EXHIBITION-1923-01

Description: Shows the sun setting over the sea, with the words "Westward Ho!" reflected in the water. This poster announces the date of the exhibition (15 December 1923 to 2 February 1924), in 40,000 feet of space. The exhibition secretary was Mr D J Evans of Hokitika, the patron was Viscount Jellicoe, and the Vice-Patron was the Right Hon William Massey, Prime Minister. Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s) on poster. Physical Description: Letterpress, black on yellow, 755 x 335 mm. Provenance: Acquired in 1984.

Date: ca 1920

Reference: 1/2-021824-G

Description: Railway bridge and western portal area of the Otira tunnel. Taken circa 1920. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: [ca 1920s]

From: Original photographic prints and postcards from file print collection, Box 13

Reference: PAColl-6407-70

Description: Railway locomotive in Otira Tunnel, circa 1920s. Icicles hang from the celing. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 147 x 198 mm

Date: 1926

From: Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives

Reference: APG-1692-1/2-G

Description: Entrance to the Otira Tunnel, showing a bridge leading towards the tunnel. Photograph taken 1926 by Albert Percy Godber. Source of descriptive information - Godber's index held in Photographic Archive (under 97. Otira Tunnel entrance. Otira. 1926) Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 6.5 x 4.75 inches

Date: ca 1928

From: Silverwood, R :Photographs of Otira, Arthur's Pass and Otira Tunnel

Reference: 1/2-062696-F

Description: Shows machinery at the Westland Company, Otira ca 1928. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: 1908

From: Dick, R (Miss), fl 1981 :Photographs of the Otira tunnel, 1908

Reference: 1/2-056630-F

Description: Shows workers with carts and a horse at the Otira Tunnel ca 1908. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).