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REWANUI TRAIN - Taking Coalminers Up The Incline.
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DescriptionREWANUI TRAIN Taking Coalminers Up The Incline For Their Underground Shift Below The Paparoa Range.
Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
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Location (city or town)RewanuiEventREWANUI TRAIN - Taking Coalminers Up The Incline.
Category Information
Category TagCoal Mining
From Facebook
Date Created31st May 2025CommentsUsed to catch that train sometimes from Greymouth to Runanga ?my Dad used to work up there too ?
Gael Smith
Went up there most weekends with dad on the trolley .had to pull the big lever to get us going .it was called a jigger .
Trish Rennie
Gael Smith we used to play on them as kids around the Dunollie railway station and up the track….was part of our playground then. That was when Ganger Ross lived up by the station
Lynn Hopkins
And you wondered how the hell you ever done it,some young ones wouldn’t know what hard work is today.
We used to ride in the engine with Allan Gillespie when we were kids up to Rewanui…great memories. No need for health n safety then….there was a very “precious “ thing called “common sense”….something that seems sadly lacking today.
Alan Mitchell
Trish Rennie Your right about that. All this OSH bull shit has stopped Kids learning about things and how to lookout for themselves.
Graham Love
I cycled up there a couple of weeks ago. Very different to what I remember the 1st time I cycled up there when the tracks were still there over 50 years ago.
RichSandra Case
Had 7yrs up there every day from herd st those were the days
Peter Gray
Used to take our bikes up in the train n ride them back home ?♂️
Russell Murphy
I was pretty lucky, my Dad was a Guard. We would do the run in the school holidays in the Guards Van. Use to watch the wagons getting filled etc. Will always remember first place I ever heard the F ?!
Craig Smith
Drove that road for 4 years in my car to the Mt Davy mine in the 90s. Rails gone just a gravel road
Steve FitzGerald
One of the most enjoyable trips I've ever done. So good that I did it about a dozen times
Ed Dando
Amazing
Paul Marshall
Is that gorse in the bottom left? Before nz was covered in the shit!
Arthur Quy
I used to use that train every week day in 52 - 53 when i worked at Middle Break. Sometimes i would ride my 6/50 BSA up to the foot of the hoist tunnel. Was then a rase to beat the train down to Dunollie.
Lawrence Boul
Assuming a weekday, that's a mixed train later in the day, so the miners would be on shift already. The miners train in the morning (861) would have been a full load of cars. Still a nice pic though.
Dave Steers
I was station up there with blinks Reynolds Abbo Patterson Tony Panara sorry bout the spelling Tony.
Neil Burrell
So what years did train operate there and when did the tracks get pulled up. Was there no road up there?
Edward Townsend
Love it
Mal Glynn
Take note of the centre rail
Steve FitzGerald
Mal Glynn It was gone in 1967/68 when I was there. The cowcatchers still had the cutout for it tho
Dave Steers
Brake van on rear
Bruce Anderson
Hi road the train to work very day
Anne Brown
Looks great!
Jim Ward
Was lucky enough to ride the loco up the hill in 67 , a great trip..We 375??
Alan Beck
The regulars warned tourists the cubicles are Out. So would the visitor be. On the track.
Gael Smith
Went up there most weekends with dad on the trolley .had to pull the big lever to get us going .it was called a jigger .
Trish Rennie
Gael Smith we used to play on them as kids around the Dunollie railway station and up the track….was part of our playground then. That was when Ganger Ross lived up by the station
ose Green
Used to catch that train sometimes from Greymouth to Runanga ?my Dad used to work up there too ?
Trish Rennie
We used to ride in the engine with Allan Gillespie when we were kids up to Rewanui…great memories. No need for health n safety then….there was a very “precious “ thing called “common sense”….something that seems sadly lacking today.
Lynn Hopkins
And you wondered how the hell you ever done it,some young ones wouldn’t know what hard work is today.
Vern Pattinson
Lynn Hopkins worked Saturday morning then biked back down the track to my car then back home to Dobson
3d
Reply
Graham Love
I cycled up there a couple of weeks ago. Very different to what I remember the 1st time I cycled up there when the tracks were still there over 50 years ago.
RichSandra Case
Had 7yrs up there every day from herd st those were the days
Herb Hart
Backshift(afternoon shift) miners on the way up to Liverpool coal mine at Rewanui.Jimmy (Ducky )Higson sitting on the carriage step
Peter Gray
Used to take our bikes up in the train n ride them back home ?♂️
Craig Smith
Drove that road for 4 years in my car to the Mt Davy mine in the 90s. Rails gone just a gravel road
RichSandra Case
Bloody good photo ?
Steve FitzGerald
One of the most enjoyable trips I've ever done. So good that I did it about a dozen times
Neil Burrell
So what years did train operate there and when did the tracks get pulled up. Was there no road up there?
Judy Smolen
So many great memories....they were the best year's
Trish Rennie
Judy Smolen yes Jude….back in the day when neighbourhoods watched out for its people….and families stuck together
George McKenzie
Great nostalgic photo. Note the brake rail in the middle of the track used to slow laden trains as they came down from Rewanui.
=
Dave Steers
Brake van on rear
Ed Dando
Amazing
Dave Steers
I was station up there with blinks Reynolds Abbo Patterson Tony Panara sorry bout the spelling Tony.
Paul Marshall
Is that gorse in the bottom left? Before nz was covered in the shit!
3d
Reply
Arthur Quy
I used to use that train every week day in 52 - 53 when i worked at Middle Break. Sometimes i would ride my 6/50 BSA up to the foot of the hoist tunnel. Was then a rase to beat the train down to Dunollie.
Lawrence Boul
Assuming a weekday, that's a mixed train later in the day, so the miners would be on shift already. The miners train in the morning (861) would have been a full load of cars. Still a nice pic though.
Edward Townsend
Love it
Mal Glynn
Take note of the centre rail
3d
Reply
Jackie Hetherington
Awesome ? ? ?
Bruce Anderson
Hi road the train to work very day
Anne Brown
Looks great!
Jim Ward
Was lucky enough to ride the loco up the hill in 67 , a great trip..We 375??
Alan Beck
The regulars warned tourists the cubicles are Out.
Gael Smith
Went up there most weekends with dad on the trolley .had to pull the big lever to get us going .it was called a jigger .
Trish Rennie
Gael Smith we used to play on them as kids around the Dunollie railway station and up the track….was part of our playground then. That was when Ganger Ross lived up by the station
Lynn Hopkins
And you wondered how the hell you ever done it,some young ones wouldn’t know what hard work is today.
We used to ride in the engine with Allan Gillespie when we were kids up to Rewanui…great memories. No need for health n safety then….there was a very “precious “ thing called “common sense”….something that seems sadly lacking today.
Alan Mitchell
Trish Rennie Your right about that. All this OSH bull shit has stopped Kids learning about things and how to lookout for themselves.
Graham Love
I cycled up there a couple of weeks ago. Very different to what I remember the 1st time I cycled up there when the tracks were still there over 50 years ago.
RichSandra Case
Had 7yrs up there every day from herd st those were the days
Peter Gray
Used to take our bikes up in the train n ride them back home ?♂️
Russell Murphy
I was pretty lucky, my Dad was a Guard. We would do the run in the school holidays in the Guards Van. Use to watch the wagons getting filled etc. Will always remember first place I ever heard the F ?!
Craig Smith
Drove that road for 4 years in my car to the Mt Davy mine in the 90s. Rails gone just a gravel road
Steve FitzGerald
One of the most enjoyable trips I've ever done. So good that I did it about a dozen times
Ed Dando
Amazing
Paul Marshall
Is that gorse in the bottom left? Before nz was covered in the shit!
Arthur Quy
I used to use that train every week day in 52 - 53 when i worked at Middle Break. Sometimes i would ride my 6/50 BSA up to the foot of the hoist tunnel. Was then a rase to beat the train down to Dunollie.
Lawrence Boul
Assuming a weekday, that's a mixed train later in the day, so the miners would be on shift already. The miners train in the morning (861) would have been a full load of cars. Still a nice pic though.
Dave Steers
I was station up there with blinks Reynolds Abbo Patterson Tony Panara sorry bout the spelling Tony.
Neil Burrell
So what years did train operate there and when did the tracks get pulled up. Was there no road up there?
Edward Townsend
Love it
Mal Glynn
Take note of the centre rail
Steve FitzGerald
Mal Glynn It was gone in 1967/68 when I was there. The cowcatchers still had the cutout for it tho
Dave Steers
Brake van on rear
Bruce Anderson
Hi road the train to work very day
Anne Brown
Looks great!
Jim Ward
Was lucky enough to ride the loco up the hill in 67 , a great trip..We 375??
Alan Beck
The regulars warned tourists the cubicles are Out. So would the visitor be. On the track.
Gael Smith
Went up there most weekends with dad on the trolley .had to pull the big lever to get us going .it was called a jigger .
Trish Rennie
Gael Smith we used to play on them as kids around the Dunollie railway station and up the track….was part of our playground then. That was when Ganger Ross lived up by the station
ose Green
Used to catch that train sometimes from Greymouth to Runanga ?my Dad used to work up there too ?
Trish Rennie
We used to ride in the engine with Allan Gillespie when we were kids up to Rewanui…great memories. No need for health n safety then….there was a very “precious “ thing called “common sense”….something that seems sadly lacking today.
Lynn Hopkins
And you wondered how the hell you ever done it,some young ones wouldn’t know what hard work is today.
Vern Pattinson
Lynn Hopkins worked Saturday morning then biked back down the track to my car then back home to Dobson
3d
Reply
Graham Love
I cycled up there a couple of weeks ago. Very different to what I remember the 1st time I cycled up there when the tracks were still there over 50 years ago.
RichSandra Case
Had 7yrs up there every day from herd st those were the days
Herb Hart
Backshift(afternoon shift) miners on the way up to Liverpool coal mine at Rewanui.Jimmy (Ducky )Higson sitting on the carriage step
Peter Gray
Used to take our bikes up in the train n ride them back home ?♂️
Craig Smith
Drove that road for 4 years in my car to the Mt Davy mine in the 90s. Rails gone just a gravel road
RichSandra Case
Bloody good photo ?
Steve FitzGerald
One of the most enjoyable trips I've ever done. So good that I did it about a dozen times
Neil Burrell
So what years did train operate there and when did the tracks get pulled up. Was there no road up there?
Judy Smolen
So many great memories....they were the best year's
Trish Rennie
Judy Smolen yes Jude….back in the day when neighbourhoods watched out for its people….and families stuck together
George McKenzie
Great nostalgic photo. Note the brake rail in the middle of the track used to slow laden trains as they came down from Rewanui.
=
Dave Steers
Brake van on rear
Ed Dando
Amazing
Dave Steers
I was station up there with blinks Reynolds Abbo Patterson Tony Panara sorry bout the spelling Tony.
Paul Marshall
Is that gorse in the bottom left? Before nz was covered in the shit!
3d
Reply
Arthur Quy
I used to use that train every week day in 52 - 53 when i worked at Middle Break. Sometimes i would ride my 6/50 BSA up to the foot of the hoist tunnel. Was then a rase to beat the train down to Dunollie.
Lawrence Boul
Assuming a weekday, that's a mixed train later in the day, so the miners would be on shift already. The miners train in the morning (861) would have been a full load of cars. Still a nice pic though.
Edward Townsend
Love it
Mal Glynn
Take note of the centre rail
3d
Reply
Jackie Hetherington
Awesome ? ? ?
Bruce Anderson
Hi road the train to work very day
Anne Brown
Looks great!
Jim Ward
Was lucky enough to ride the loco up the hill in 67 , a great trip..We 375??
Alan Beck
The regulars warned tourists the cubicles are Out.
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West Coast New Zealand History (3rd Jun 2025). REWANUI TRAIN - Taking Coalminers Up The Incline.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 23rd Jun 2025 06:01, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34803