NIMT Parliamentary Special

The Parliamentary Special was the first passenger train to travel between Wellington and Auckland entirely

by rail.

It carried 44 parliamentarians including the Prime Minister of the time, Sir Joseph Ward, to greet the United States Navy’s “Great White Fleet” which was visiting Auckland in August 1908.

The Public Works Department laid track between the then yet-to-be-joined railheads to allow this special train to run.

ONTRACK will partner with heritage rail operators Steam Inc to recreate the running of the train over three days.

Picture of the interior of the carriages available here as a pdf file.

[Picture: Painting of the 1908 Parliamentary Special by W W Stewart]

Schedule

Parliamentary Special schedule:            

Wed 6 Aug:        Wellington – Taihape

Thurs 7 Aug:      Taihape – Taumarunui

Fri 8 Aug:          Taumarunui – Auckland

The most updated version of the schedule is available here as a pdf file.

Guests on board

Guests on board the Parliamentary Special will be by invitation.

ONTRACK is aware of the strong rail connection many New Zealanders have, especially families within the railway established towns.  Please contact ONTRACK at NIMT_project@ontrack.govt.nz if you feel you are a descendant of a railway worker or land owner who was considerably affected by or involved with the construction of the North Island Main Trunk in the early 1900s.