ALBUM - Otira tunnel work - the famous Burt Munroe worked on the building of the tunnel.1900`s.

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DescriptionConstruction commenced in 1907 and a "breakthrough" celebration was held on 21 August 1918 by the Minister of Public Works Sir William Fraser.

When the tunnel opened on 4 August 1923, it was the seventh longest tunnel in the world and the longest in the British EmpireJames.

Construction commenced in 1907 and a "breakthrough" celebration was held on 21 August 1918 by the Minister of Public Works Sir William Fraser. When the tunnel opened on 4 August 1923, it was the seventh longest tunnel in the world and the longest in the British Empire.

First LA wagon through Otira Tunnel
"The famous Burt Munroe worked on the building of the tunnel."Munro continued to work on the family farm until the First World War got over and his father sold the farm. He then worked on the 'Otira Tunnel' construction until he joined his father on their newly purchased farm.Date of Photo1900`sMap^[1]ContributorVaughan Smith

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)OtiraLandmark (Place)Otira TunnelEventRailway tunnelling

Category Information

Category TagRailways

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CommentsJeffrey Harrison
The first photo (the men outside the tunnel with the horse) I'm pretty sure isn't the Otira tunnel, it maybe one of the other tunnels on the east side of the midland line but 99% sure it isn't Otria tunnel at ever end.Les Bryce
Why are the tracks so far to the left in the 3rd photo?

Phil McVicar
Les Bryce the 3 tracks are when the tunnel was being constructed, they used a narrower gauge track than normal

Les Bryce
cheers

Bert Chandler
Look at those men at the tunnel face, cold water all the time on them, back breaking manual work.
Liam Pomfret-brown
Bert Chandler bet them old boys in the back would have some stories

Bert Chandler
Liam Pomfret-brown probably from UK and elsewhere those men.

Neville Stevens
what a great photo.s collection and the times

Wayne Nicholson
The Great Bert Munro 1899-1978 born this day.

Vern Pattinson
Awesome

Mike Rodgers
Bert Munroe worked on the tunnel? Amazing coincidence, so did someone with a similar name; Burt Munro, the famous motorcycle racer!

Marilyn Isabel Gilchrist
Peter Neale

Jock Allen
Brilliant effort those days with picks and shovels and the poor old Horse

John Chipper
To think they were less than an inch out when they met!
Can you imagine what they would think of todays tunnel drilling machinery?

John Flattery-donohoe
a dangerous job at the best of times

Steve Batey
My great grandfather John Byrne died on 12 October 1915 while working building the tunnel.

Wayne Morris
There is no LA wagon in any of those photos, the wagons are all narrow gauge, I think 2 foot gauge.

Mari Walsh
I remember when I worked for the railways in the 80s being allowed in the cab of a train going thru the tunnel. The inside is lines with bricks... and it isn't straight it curves... the workmanship inside is amazing!Loraine Cain
My Great Grandfather Frederick W Fell worked at Otira employed by Public Works Dept building railway lines. Family lived at lower end of village

Thomas Peter Mulligan
Great history my friend there when they had a crew put new rails 1980s

Allan Vincent
the Home of the image of Sir Harry Lauder
May be an image of 1 person and text

Don Neale
Peter Neale

Fiona Neale Sue Asplin

Rob Evans
Some fairly hardy souls worked on that project , one can only imagine what conditions must have been like living in the workers huts under the shadow of the mountain . Must have been cold wet and generally pretty dismal through the winters and springs .

Trevor Keith Scott
I remember the tunnel well as I worked in it with the Railways on 3 different times, first time in early 60's then early 70's stayed at the Otira Railway huts as a young fellow, 2nd time with wife and kids in the railway housing in Otira village, played darts a lot at Otira pub. Later shifted to Springfield still with Railways. McKenzie's took over the Otira pub and I worked with son Don McKenzie on the track. we spent a great deal of time in Otira Tunnel re railing and re-sleepering. Great time and great families in Otira the 3 times I spent there.

Alan Shirley
Bob Rudd who lived in Preston Road worked on the Otira tunnel. He lived to 104.

Paddy Beban
My great Uncle Rocco Beban was president of the Otira Tunnel Workers Union during the second phase of construction after WW1.

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ALBUM - Otira tunnel work - the famous Burt Munroe worked on the building of the tunnel.1900`s.

Editing is temporarily disabled