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Whitecliffs Branch
The Whitecliffs Branch was an long branch line railway that formed part of New Zealand's national rail network in the Canterbury region of the South Island. It was more industrial than the many rural branches on the South Island's east coast whose traffic primarily derived from agriculture, and it operated from 1875 until 1962. Construction What would have been the first portion of a branch line to Whitecliffs has now become part of the Midland Line. The original plan was for a straight line running directly from Rolleston to Sheffield and Springfield, with a branch built from Kirwee to Darfield. When the railway reached Kirwee, the line to Darfield was built first, and it was from here that construction of two lines began. One line was built towards Sheffield and Springfield, and one towards Whitecliffs. At that stage, it was not known which, if either, would be incorporated in the line to the West Coast. Surveys for the line from Darfield to Whitecliffs were undertak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Passenger Rail Terminology
Various terms are used for passenger railway lines and equipment; the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas: Rapid transit A rapid transit system is an electric railway characterized by high speed (~) and rapid acceleration. It uses passenger railcars operating singly or in multiple unit trains on fixed rails. It operates on separate rights-of-way from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded (i.e. is fully grade-separated from other traffic). It uses sophisticated signaling systems, and high platform loading. Originally, the term ''rapid transit'' was used in the 1800s to describe new forms of quick urban public transportation that had a right-of-way separated from street traffic. This set rapid transit apart from horsecars, trams, streetcars, omnibuses, and other forms of public transport. A variant of the term, ''mass rapid transit (MRT)'', is also used for metro systems in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Though the term was almost alway ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coalgate, New Zealand
Coalgate is a small town in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located roughly an hour west of Christchurch on State Highway 77. The town's name stems from it being the "gateway" to the lignite coal fields around Whitecliffs, the Rakaia Gorge, and The Acheron River. Coal mining declined in the 20th century and has now ceased, but since the 1950s, commercial processing of nontronite has taken place in Coalgate. Demographics Coalgate is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers . It is part of the Glentunnel statistical area. Coalgate had a population of 339 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 111 people (48.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 138 households. There were 165 males and 174 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 75 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 51 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 165 (48.7%) age ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35%, and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content. When removed from the ground, it contains a very high amount of moisture which partially explains its low carbon content. Lignite is mined all around the world and is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steam-electric power generation. The combustion of lignite produces less heat for the amount of carbon dioxide and sulfur released than other ranks of coal. As a result, environmental advocates have characterized lignite as the most harmful coal to human health. Depending on the source, various toxic heavy metals, including naturally occurring radioactive materials may be present in lignite which are left over in the coal fly ash produced from its combustion, further increasing health risks. Characteristics Lignite is brow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coalgate Railway Yard Plan
Several settlements have been named Coalgate: * Commerce, Alberta, Canada, originally named Coalgate * Coalgate, New Zealand * Coalgate, Oklahoma, USA * Coalgate, West Virginia, USA Coalgate may also refer to: * Indian coal mining controversy, a corruption scandal See also * Colgate (other) Colgate may refer to: Places * Colgate, North Dakota, US *Colgate, Wisconsin, US *Colgate, West Sussex, England, UK * Colgate, Saskatchewan, Canada Other * Colgate (name) * Colgate (toothpaste), a product of Colgate-Palmolive * Colgate-Palmo ... {{geodis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homebush, New Zealand
Homebush is a settlement in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It has had a long association with the pioneering Deans family. History Due to the area's surrounding industry, Homebush was connected to the Whitecliffs Branch, which operated from 1875 until 1962. The railway station (built in 1875) was located on Yeomans Road. The building is now located in Darfield at the branch's memorial site. 2010 Canterbury earthquake The historic Homebush Homestead owned by the Deans family was destroyed during the earthquake. It was rebuilt four years later. Film Homebush's forests (located in the homestead gardens) were used as a filming location for the 2005 Narnia film, '' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.'' Landmarks A number of historic farms buildings are located around Homebush. These building were primarily used for use by the Homebush Station. These include: * The water turbine, which was constructed in 1880 and incorporated into its own room in the stable ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canterbury Interior Main Line
The Canterbury Interior Main Line was a proposed railway line that would have linked many of the branch lines in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. Although it was never built in full, its most northerly portion was constructed. The proposal The proposal was created and developed in the 1870s and 1880s as branch lines began to fan out from the then under-construction Main North Line and Main South Line (which together form the South Island Main Trunk Railway). These lines ran from coastal centres inland and were intended to provide better communication and transport for young, fledgling communities and to open up parts of Canterbury for greater, more intensive economic activity – mainly agriculture. The Canterbury Interior Main Line proposal intended to link these branch lines together. It was to leave the Main North Line in Rangiora, head inland to Oxford and Sheffield and then link a number of branch lines at or near their termini before returning to t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acheron River (Canterbury)
The Acheron River is a river in Canterbury, New Zealand and flows from Lake Lyndon south into the Rakaia River. Small deposits of coal are found near the river. In the 1870s, a proposal existed to extend the Whitecliffs Branch, a branch line railway, through the Rakaia Gorge to the Acheron River to access these coal deposits, and an 1880 Royal Commission on New Zealand's railway network was in favour of this extension, but it never came to fruition.David Leitch and Bob Scott, ''Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways'', rev. ed. (Wellington: Grantham House, 1998), pg. 71. *Head: * Confluence with Rakaia: See also * Acheron River, Marlborough *Acheron The Acheron (; grc, Ἀχέρων ''Acheron'' or Ἀχερούσιος ''Acherousios''; ell, Αχέροντας ''Acherontas'') is a river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. It is long, and its drainage area is . Its source is ... (river in Greece) References Rivers of Canterbury, New Zealand Rivers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rakaia Gorge
The Rakaia Gorge is located on the Rakaia River in inland Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island. Like its neighbour, the Waimakariri River, the Rakaia runs through wide shingle beds for much of its length, but is forced through a narrow canyon as it approaches the Canterbury Plains. In the 1870s, there were proposals to extend the Whitecliffs Branch railway into the Rakaia Gorge, and an 1880 Royal Commission on New Zealand's railway network was in favour of this proposal, but it never came to fruition. The Rakaia Gorge bridge was completed in 1882 and provides an inland alternative to the more frequently used Rakaia River bridge just north of the town of Rakaia. The bridge carries State Highway 77 and the Inland Scenic Route and connects the settlements of Glentunnel and Methven Swimming at the top bridges of the gorge is a favoured pastime for locals and tourists alike. Swimming in the main river can be done but only by strong swimmers. There is a perfect swimming ho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for exploring Arthur's Pass National Park. Arthur's Pass township is about south of the mountain pass with the same name. Its elevation is above sea level surrounded by beech forest. The Bealey River runs through the township. The town is located from Christchurch a 2-hour drive on State Highway 73. Naming and history The township and the pass take their names after Arthur Dudley Dobson (1841–1934, Sir Arthur from 1931). The Chief Surveyor of Canterbury Province, Thomas Cass, had tasked Arthur Dobson to find out if there was an available pass out of the Waimakariri watershed into valleys running to the West Coast. In 1864 Arthur's brother Edward Henry Dobson joined him and accompanied him over the watershed into the valley of the Otira River ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cass, New Zealand
Cass is a locality in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island. It is named for Thomas Cass, an important pioneer surveyor in the area. State Highway 73 passes near the town, and the Midland Line between Christchurch and the West Coast was opened to the town in 1910, with the full line opened in 1923 when the Otira Tunnel was completed. Since November 1987, the world-famous TranzAlpine passenger train has run through the town. There are 5 houses in Cass today, but only one resident (currently Barrie Drummond), making it one of the few places in the world with a population of one resident. The Cass Trust Hotel and Tavern Still Operates in the Old Ministry of Works Shed. Cass is home to the large civil contracting company, Cass Contracting which employs over 170 highly skilled staff. For some time from 1910, while the Midland Line was under construction (and in particular, the tunnel at Arthur's Pass), Cass was the railhead coming from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lake Lyndon
Lake Lyndon is a small lake in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located near Porters Pass on State Highway 73 after Springfield heading into the Southern Alps. The lake regularly freezes in winter due to its elevation and location on the outer border of the Southern Alps. It is roughly an hour from Christchurch and is a popular site for rainbow trout fishing as the trout population in the lake is thriving due to the dense oxygen weed beds that provide a plentiful food source. The lake is largely surrounded by Korowai / Torlesse Tussocklands Park,Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park, Department of Conservation. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/canterbury/north-canterbury-and-arthurs-pass/korowai-torlesse-tussocklands-park/ and the Acheron River flows from the lake to the Rakaia River. Mount Lyndon is to the west of the lake and Castle Hill Peak is to the North of the lake. One of the proposed routes for the Midland Line r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
