Railways, Cable - New Zealand - West Coast Region

Date: ca1905

From: Humphreys, W :Photographs of the Westport Coal Company's operation at Denniston

Reference: PA1-o-990

Description: The images begin at the foot of the incline where the coal trucks joined the railway head at Conns Creek Yards. There are views up the incline and down it from the top, and two views of the breakhead which was the top terminal of the incline at Denniston. The album then has views of the trucks coming and going along the double cable roperoad railway which brought loaded trucks from the mines near Burnetts Face to the breakhead, and returned the empties for refilling. Some of these views include the industrial buildings and bridges crossed by the railway, including wooden bridge and a steel trestle bridge. There is also an image of the iron bridge which crossed the Waimangaroa River and took the coal trucks to the Iron Bridge mine. One image shows a compressor engine which pumped air into the mines, another is a close up of a cascade fan used for ventalating mines. The final image is of Burnetts Face, which was the other community associated with the Westport Coal Company's opperation at this time Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: [ca 1905]

From: Humphreys, W :Photographs of the Westport Coal Company's operation at Denniston

Reference: PA1-o-991

Description: The album opens with a photograph of a locomotive used in shunting coal trucks. This is followed by three images of Denniston incline seen from a distance, a view of Conns Creek Yards and another of the breakhead which was the top incline terminal at Denniston. There are images of the double cable roperoad railway crossing an iron trestle bridge with coal trucks on their way to and from the mines to the incline. The album also contains three images of a model of the iron trestle bridge constructed for the Westport Coal Company. One section of the album contains seven images of the Township of Denniston. There are views of the town seen from a distance on the edge of the plateau. Other views show the the basic rather primitive character of the place - many simple weatherboard cottages without gardens or fences among the ruined stumps of native trees in a town with few formed streets. Two other images are of Burnett's Face and industrial buildings at wooden bridge Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: ca1905

From: Humphreys, W :Photographs of the Westport Coal Company's operation at Denniston

Reference: PA1-o-992

Description: The first ten images are views of Denniston and the Camp under snow. These images include distant views and views within the town showing houses and streets. One image shows coal trucks crossing the trestle bridge in snow covered country side, and another is of the iron bridge in winter. Five images are of waterfalls and scenic features taken along the horse track connecting Denniston with the coastal plain The last eight images are of Westport. One shows a typical villa of the period, another shows the exterior of the Westport Coal Company's laboratory building. There is a view of the railway yards with Denniston coal waiting in trucks. The rest are of Westport wharves, ships, and dredges working in the harbour Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: 1972 - 1979

From: Price, Nina, 1953- :[Lino cuts, biro drawings and a painted cardboard model of a house, relating to Denniston, West Coast. 1972-1979]

Reference: A-460-006

Description: A scene showing part of the once-operational coal mine at the top of the Denniston incline, comprising buildings of varying sizes Denniston incline was recognised the world over as a remarkable feat of engineering. Linking Denniston with the Conns Creek rail head below, the incline fell 510 metres over 1.7 kilometres in two sections, incorporating dramatically steep gradients. (http://www.dennistonmineexperience.co.nz/history) Quantity: 1 colour art print(s). Physical Description: Linocut, hand-coloured, 210 x 285 mm on paper 295 x 360 mm

Date: 1972 - 1979

From: Price, Nina, 1953- :[Lino cuts, biro drawings and a painted cardboard model of a house, relating to Denniston, West Coast. 1972-1979]

Reference: A-460-016

Description: A scene showing part of the once-operational coal mine at the top of the Denniston incline, comprising buildings of varying sizes. Three or four derailed sorting bins are seen in the foreground, bottom right Denniston incline was recognised the world over as a remarkable feat of engineering. Linking Denniston with the Conns Creek rail head below, the incline fell 510 metres over 1.7 kilometres in two sections, incorporating dramatically steep gradients. (http://www.dennistonmineexperience.co.nz/history) Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Linocut, 237 x 280 mm on paper 250 x 295 mm

Date: 1972 - 1979

From: Price, Nina, 1953- :[Lino cuts, biro drawings and a painted cardboard model of a house, relating to Denniston, West Coast. 1972-1979]

Reference: A-460-014

Description: A scene showing a mine worker wearing a hard-hat, watching on as a line of coal wagons head down from the top of the Dennsiston mine Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s). Physical Description: Linocut, 170 x 235 mm on paper 291 x 363 mm

Date: [ca 1880s]

By: Ring, James, 1856-1939

Reference: PA1-o-435

Description: Photographs taken circa 1880s by James Ring, photographer based in Greymouth. Scenes in Greymouth and nearby include views of severe flooding (p 3-5, 7); loading ships at the wharf showing hydraulic cranes raising hoppers of coal, and rolling stock laden with coal for transportation. Three shipping photographs including the SS Gerda wrecked on the Greymouth Breakwater in June 1888; the SS Mawhera ashore on North Beach, Greymouth in 1886, and the SS Rosamond crossing the Greymouth Bar. Beyond Greymouth views include the Grey River, Rocky Island, Brunnerton and the Brunnerton Bridge, and the West Coast Road. Then views of Lake Brunner, Refuge Island and Mitchell Falls. The Teremakau [now Taramakau] River is next, one view showing the road bridge, and one showing the flying fox (wire bridge) leading over to the Teremakau Hotel. These are followed by scenes along the Otira Gorge, including Warnock's Nob, Westley's Creek (Wesley Creek), and Starvation Point, before reaching Porter's Pass, Broken River, Arthur's Pass and the Devil's Punch Bowl Falls. The last sequence show Grasmere Station, Castle Hill Station (with one view of snow gates) and Craigieburn Station; the town of Cass; Bealey, Bealey Hotel, and Bealey Gorge, Lake Pearson and Lake Mapourika. Other Titles - New Zealand Views, by James Ring, Greymouth, N. Z. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with quarterbound red cover, red leather corners and spine; entitled "New Zealand Views, by James Ring, Greymouth, N.Z."; 24 x 31 cm

Date: [ca 1881]

From: Perkins, J (Mr), fl 1967 :Photograph album and loose prints

Reference: PA1-o-415-02

Description: Cable car over the Taramakau River, West Coast, part of the Greymouth and Kumara Tramway. A young man is standing on a platform and he is holding a bell. The Tramway Hotel can be seen on the other side of the river. Photographed ca 1881 by an unidentified photographer, possibly William Herbert Perkins. Source of descriptive information - Historical notes from Library client, 2007 Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Greymouth and Kumara Tramway Crossing at Teremakau River. span 800 feet Time 30 seconds. No of passengers 6 at a time supported on 2 steel ropes breaking strain 50 tons each The cable car over the Taramakau River was hauled by a steam engine inside the shed on the far side. It operated (in conjunction with the Greymouth-Kumara horse tram) from May 1877 until December 1893 when it was replaced by the present road/rail bridge. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Albumen print 14.6 x 19.5 cm, mounted on album page

Date: [ca 1880s-1890s]

From: Ring album 1

Reference: PA1-o-435-50

Description: The Westport Coal Company's Denniston Incline, photographed by James Ring circa 1880s-1890s. Source of descriptive information - Denniston Incline recognised by cataloguer. Date approximated by cataloguer. Other Titles - Incline to Westport mine NZ Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - Incline to Wesport mine NZ 403 JR Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 13.4 x 20.2 cm, on album page

Date: ca 1905

From: Humphreys, W :Photographs of the Westport Coal Company's operation at Denniston

Reference: PA1-o-990-12

Description: View of the coal tubs on a cable roperoad railway. This was the last in a series of roperoads linking the mines to the bins at the incline brakehead at Denniston. Three women are standing by the tubs which are stationary. Photographed by an unknown photographer in about 1905 Source of descriptive information - Les Wright identified the ropeway as the last in a series linking the mines to the the bins at the Denniston brakehead. Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Tramway Coal was delivered from the bins at Denniston to Conns Creek, down the incline, in large railway wagons. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print