This page presents draft information, that is still being actively researched and fact checked. It may be incomplete, and contain more than the normal level of mistakes and factual errors. If you have any corrections or additions please get in touch.
Across New Zealand, New Zealand Railways installed many examples of a largely standardized wooden wind engine, to pump water to supply steam locomotives and for other railway needs. At least two sizes were common, of either 14ft or 16ft diameter, and the first examples were installed towards the end of the 1870's, though the standard plans by G. A. Troup were drawn in the 1890's, and examples continued in service through to at least the 1950's. Ian Jonson's research identified 116 or 117 that were built.
Two examples of these wind engines survive in their original locations, at Willowbank and Belgrove. In addition there is a replica to be found at Brayshore Heritage Park, Blenheim.
A number of other wind pumps have been installed by heritage railway societies at their tracksides, but these are typically just of a generic metal wind engine type, and are not covered by this page.
Restored railway windmill, for pumping water for steam locos. Believed to have been erected originally in 1898.
[info] [info] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo]This is a replica of a New Zealand railway windmill.
[homepage] [photo] [photo] [photo]Pumped water into a tank for use by the railway
Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 892, 29 July 1897
Brightwater. - The Railway Department are having a large windmill erected at the station for the purpose of supplying the motive power to pump the water to fill the tanks. A solid concrete foundation has been laid, and the height of the framework will be 50 feet, on which will be supported the gearing and fans, the latter being about 16 feet in diameter. A good supply of water is obtainable, and the new arrangement will, no doubt, save a good deal of labor. The present tank-supports, which are in an unsound condition, are to be taken down and replaced by a new framework.
Star, Issue 3905, 22 October 1880
Chertsey Water Service. - Mr E. G. Wright has received the following letter from the Railway Department: - "Railway Department, Head office, Wellington, Oct. 5, 1880. Sir, - I am directed by the Hon the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th ultimo relative to the Chertsey water supply, and to thank you for having brought the matter under his notice. Instructions will be given to have the windmill in question erected at an early date.— l have, &c , W. Webby, Under Secretary for Railways. E. G. Wright, Esq., M.H.R. Windermere, Winslow, Canterbury."
Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8895, 11 September 1889
THE GALE.
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS. The gale on Monday night has caused a considerable amount of damage, and in the Telegraphic Department has created a considerable amount of delay in the transmission of messages, particularly South of Ashburton. ...
NORTH CANTERBURY. Our Rangiora correspondent writes:- On Monday night the northern district was visited by one of the strongest north-west gales experienced for many years. At eight o’clock the wind commenced to rise, and a long line of black clouds hanging over the Puketiraki range of hills portended heavy weather. Two hours later the wind had increased in volume, and at 11 p.m. it was blowing with hurricane violence. Fortunately the gale blew itself out in about an hour, the worst being over by midnight. It lasted long enough however, to do a considerable amount of damage to buildings, gardens and crops in all parts of the district. Rangiora escaped very well. A few outbuildings and fences were wrecked, windows broken, and three or four chimneys blown down. A number of large fir and other trees were also uprooted. At the Southbrook railway station several of the large trees in the plantation were levelled and a small amount of damage was done to outbuildings in the township. The principal losers in the Rangiora district are Messrs C. Chinnery and J. Withers, flaxmill proprietors, large quantities of their fibre on the drying grounds having been blown away or so tangled up as to be rendered next to useless. On the Springbank Estate Mr R. Chapman’s large woolshed was unroofed, the iron being ripped off and crumpled up like paper. The three-roomed building at the Moeraki station formerly used as a ticket office, parcel room, &c., was lifted bodily off the platform and thrown a wreck against the fence on the other side of the roadway. At the Cust railway station the windmill was carried away, and the waiting-room at the West Eyreton station was completely wrecked. ...
CUST. Monday last will be remembered by the people, of the Cust district for many a year as the night on which they were visited with a gale almost approaching a cyclone, and which has been the means of doing a considerable amount of damage. It commenced to blow about 10 p.m., and half an hour later the wind was simply furious, the scene presented of falling chimneys, roofs being torn off, outhouses changing their place of location, and fences being thrown down, was simply of an awful character. ... The windmills of Messrs Ruddenklau and Dixon and the railway department, were demolished. The waiting rooms at West Eyreton and Moeraki were capsized. ... Towards midnight the gale had blown itself out.
Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6042, 19 September 1898
The Railway Department has erected a very large windmill at the Eketahuna Station.
Tuapeka Times, Volume X, Issue 744, 2 February 1878
We were pleased the other day to observe an experiment made at Greytown, which we have no doubt will prove successful, and very speedily be generally adopted. We refer to raising water by windmills. The cost to the Railway Department for labor in pumping water into the tanks to supply the engines on the various lines must amount to a large sum of money, and it is not to be wondered at that some effort to economise in this direction should be attempted. The windmill erected at the Greytown station has rather an ornamental appearance, and at the time we saw it at work there was very little wind blowing, but still sufficient to draw a steady stream of water from the well beneath. A few weeks ago we advocated the principle of the windmill for raising water from the Molyneux for mining purposes. When we think of the enormous sums that have been expended in the construction of water races, we cannot help thinking that by calling in the aid of the winds of heaven, water in large quantities could be raised for sluicing purposes at a very small cost.
North Otago Times, 23 April 1908
Mr Tertius Munro wrote that the Railway Department was erecting a windmill at the Kurow-end of the bridge across the Waitaki river. The residents of Kurow were protesting strongly against it, as it was apt to frighten horses crossing the bridge. The Clerk was instructed to write the District Engineer of Railways on the subject.
Southland Times, Issue 9160, 8 March 1886
The Railway Department has, after experimenting in various ways to provide water for the engines, hit upon the right method at last - a windmill having been erected for the purpose of raising this essential element. I believe if one saw the cost the Department has been put to during the past four years for water-raising appliances here, it would help to solve the problem of why the railways do not pay. There was a hot-air pump prior to the windmill, and goodness knows tbe cost of it, as, besides the mechanics from elsewhere, our local man, who, by the way, is a bit of a mechanical genius, was always pulling it down and putting it up again.
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22409, 4 May 1936
The violence of the south-westerly storm which swept the Dominion early in the week-end was felt throughout the Auckland Province, which experienced an exceptionally cold snap. Considerable damage to property and much inconvenience was caused. Power, telegraph and telephone lines were broken and the services interrupted, while numerous trees were blown down. ... A windmill owned by the Railway Department at Ngaruawahia was shattered by the storm.
New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6254, 28 April 1881
A striking feature of the Palmerston Railway Station is a prodigious windmill just erected by the Public Works Department for the purpose of lifting the water from the well to the tanks which supply the engines at that station.
Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 107, 2 November 1916
VIEW OF THE OLD RAILWAY STATION, SHOWING THE WINDMILL, WHICH WAS A PROMINENT LANDMARK IN THE EARLY DAYS.
N.B. The current wind engine at the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is not a New Zealand Railways windmill - it's a fairly generic metal wind engine instead.
[photo]Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 77, 3 October 1902
The line from Riverlands to Seddon is now in very good order. We are sinking a well and making a drive and a race for a water supply which will give 3000 gallons of water every 24 hours; this will be 2000 gallons more than the Railway will require. It would be a good thing if it could be arranged to supply the township with the surplus. The water will be pumped into present tanks by windmill.Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 100, 30 December 1902
Referring to the Seddon water supply, the Minister of Lands has informed Mr Mills that the Railway Department have removed the windmill and re erected it near a permanent spring. The old tanks are, however, kept full of water from this spring, and there is an ample supply of good water available. The Railway Department have now charge of the water supply, and anyone requiring a special service should communicate with that Department, as there is every reason to believe that the Department will allow the water to be used on the payment of a nominal rent, probably £1 per annum.
Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6379, 8 August 1881
Sheffield Station. - An Improvement has lately been effected in Sheffield by the Railway Department in replacing the windmill, used for raising water for the engines, by an hydraulic ram. A pipe has been laid down, and connected with the water-race, which has been utilised for filling a raised concrete tank this supplying the motive power. The ram, which seems to be working very smoothly, will be out of the workmen’s hands in a few days, and formally handed over to the officials.
Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2972, 28 June 1898
The Railway Department is erecting a windmill at the station here for the purpose of pumping water for their engines, as the old style of pumping by manual labor is found to be too laborious to keep up the supply needed.
Clutha Leader, Volume XI, Issue 543, 12 December 1884
The Railway Department are erecting a windmill and pumping machinery at the Waipahi railway station. Sheep and cattle yards are to be erected at the same station immediately.Otago Witness, Issue 1728, 3 January 1885
Tho Railway Department is effecting great improvements here. A large tank has been erected, capable of holding 6000 gallons of water, to be fed from the Waipahi River by a large windmill. A loading-bank and sheep-yards are also being gone on with.
Temuka Leader, Issue 55311, 14 May 1907
Mr Malcolm MeGowan, a carpenter in the employ of the Railway Department, while working on a windmill at the Winchester Railway Station, yesterday, had the misfortune to dislocate his shoulder. He was brought to Temuka on a trolly by his mates, and attended by Dr Warren, who reduced the dislocation, and he is progressing favourably.
New Zealand Railways coverage in The Windmill Journal - History of Australian and New Zealand Windmills
| Last updated 27/07/2020 | Text and images © Mark Berry, 1997-2020 - |
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