A petrol locomotive used for hauling trucks of spoil - constructing a railway through the Buller Gorge.1937.

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DescriptionA petrol locomotive used for hauling trucks of spoil. With 300 men at present employed on the work, the Buller Gorge is a scene of activity as the construction of the Westport-Inangahua Junction railway approaches its long-awaited completion. Following spasmodic progress since the late Rt. Hon. R.J. Seddon turned the first sod in 1906, work on the line was suspended in 1931 and recommenced in July of last year.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19370303-52-05PhotographerAuckland Weekly NewsDate of Photo1937-03-03Map^[1]External LinkAUCKLAND LIBRARYContributorHeather Newby

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Location (city or town)Buller GorgeEventA petrol locomotive used for hauling trucks of spoil - Constructing a railway through the Buller Gorge.1937.

From Facebook

Date Created18th October 2025CommentsCarl Smith
Heather Newby, You do promote an interesting selection from the Coast, Thankyou.

Pete Lusk
Bobby Closs was an unemployed coalminer and worked on the Buller Gorge on a govt dole scheme in 1930s. It was all pick, shovels and wheelbarrows when he was there, Bobby told me.
Tough bosses and no conditions. There was a bridge across the Buller, but the workers had to use the boat. It was very dangerous when the river was up. The boatman, a Norwegian, couldn’t swim and later drowned. The camp for the workers was beside the road at Ohika-iti....called Little Oweka in those days.

Pete Lusk
I wonder where this loco is now?

Jeff Sutherland
So cool,, im reminded of the diesel powered Lowkey rolling on down from the Charming Creek mine bringing a rake of coal wagons to the bins at Ngakawau, just up the road from me.
May be an image of railroad and text

Jim Staton
Chassis built by the PWD, model T Ford engine / gearbox / radiator etc. Built between 1921 and 1925.

Steve Best
Remember reading about these, only a very small hp petrol but could pull well because of the gear ratio was near perfect.

Pete Lusk
Bobby Closs was an unemployed coalminer and worked on the Buller Gorge on a govt dole scheme in 1930s. It was all pick, shovels and wheelbarrows when he was there, Bobby told me.
Tough bosses and no conditions. There was a bridge across the Buller, but the workers had to use the boat. It was very dangerous when the river was up. The boatman, a Norwegian, couldn’t swim and later drowned. The camp for the workers was beside the road at Ohika-iti....called Little Oweka in those days.

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A petrol locomotive used for hauling trucks of spoil - constructing a railway through the Buller Gorge.1937.

Editing is temporarily disabled