Story: Railways

New Zealand’s first public railway (1st of 3)

New Zealand’s first public railway

New Zealand’s first locomotive-powered public railway opened in Christchurch on 1 December 1863. It connected the city and a river port at Ferrymead. Richard Kelly’s engraving of the opening ceremony appeared in the Illustrated London News in March 1864.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0033-1864-241

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Neill Atkinson, 'Railways - Building the rail network', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/21373/new-zealands-first-public-railway (accessed 2 May 2024)

Story by Neill Atkinson, published 11 Mar 2010, reviewed & revised 11 Mar 2016