AB 608, Passchendaele, arriving in Timaru

In 1925 the Minister of Railways, Gordon Coates, agreed to a proposal to name a steam locomotive ‘in memory of those members of the New Zealand Railways who fell in the Great War’. After considering the names Somme, Le Quesnoy and Ypres, Coates chose Passchendaele.


The locomotive selected to carry the name was  AB 608. Built at Christchurch’s Addington railway workshops in 1915, this was the first of the famed class of AB ‘Pacifics’ – probably the most successful and versatile locomotives ever to run on New Zealand railways. More than 140 of these engines were produced between 1915 and 1926.

This excursion train was heading north to Christchurch. Seen here arriving in Timaru. Passengers were able to buy tickets to travel on a leg of the journey ie Timaru to Ashburton then return to Timaru by bus. Wish I had known  before hand then I could have gone too. see the extra photos too.