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Mount Somers Tramway

The Mount Somers Tramway

Mount Somers is a rural township 50 km inland from Ashburton and was a major station on the Springburn Branch line as well as its terminus from 1957 to 1968 when the remainder of the railway was closed. From the 1860s onwards, coal, sand, limestone and clay has been extracted in economic quantities from reserves in the gorge of the Ashburton River west of the township. It was seen at that time that effective transport was needed to enable the development of these resources and the original tramway was constructed in 1887 by the Ashburton County Council to a gauge of 1 foot 11 1/2 inches (597 mm). It was originally worked by gravity and horses, the operation being leased by tender. Various extensions were carried out as new resources and sites were developed. By 1908 traffic had developed to such an extent that a seven ton steam locomotive was put into service.

In 1901 and 1924 proposals were made for the NZ Government Railways to take over the tramway, but it was considered that the level of traffic offering did not justify the expense of bringing the line up to railway standards. In 1929, development of a new coal mine provided the impetus to have the tramway converted to the NZ standard railway gauge of 3 feet 6 inches (1067 mm). A secondhand NZR FA class steam engine was purchased from the Ohai Railway Board to work the rebuilt line. The exchange siding at Mount Somers railway station was removed and a connection made to the Springburn branch line. Railway rolling stock was now permitted to be used on the tramway for non local traffic.

From the mid 1930s onwards competition from road transport, prevailing worldwide economic conditions and the working out of reserves led to declining fortunes for the tramway. The FA locomotive had to be replaced by smaller bush lokies owing to the deteriorating condition of the permanent way. In 1937 NZ Railways proposed to ban their rolling stock from operating on the tramway. It was then suggested again that NZR take over the line, this could not be entertained but the line was brought up to satisfactory NZR standard subject to a 16 km/h speed limit. By 1941 only a small amount of lime traffic was being hauled. As repairs were not being carried out, the Ashburton County Council called tenders in August 1943 for lifting the tramway and part of it was closed from that month. The lower section remained in use until early 1945 with the track lifted in parts and the branch line connection was removed in 1949.

Today the Woolshed Creek area is a public reserve and various walking tracks have been formed in order to allow exploration of the historical operations of the area. Remnants of the tramway can still be traced, including formation and bridge abutments and piles.

Blackburn incline 1985	Limeworks west of Mt Somers 1985	Map of Mt Somers Tramway	Narrow gauge Woolshed Creek crossing 1985	Old boiler Woolshed Creek reserve 1985	Standard gauge tramway bridge abutment 1985

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