An air-operated coal crane at the Palmerston North railway yards. On the foreground: railway worker Jim Daley.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          July 1964 to August 1964

The third incarnation of the Commercial Hotel was built in 1935 on the corner of Main Street and Te Marae o Hine, The Square. It was demolished in 1986. After the Milson deviation was completed in 1960 and the new Railway Station opend in October ...

Creator:      Vera L McLennan-Boman, attributed to
Date:          1946 to 1954

The railway line that runs through the Manawatū Gorge opened in 1891. Visible on the opposite side of the gorge is the road that was constructed between 1871 and 1872.

This image is derived from a copy negative made from a photograph that was loan...

Date:          circa 1960

A train pulls into the Ashhurst Railway Station. Ashhurst Station operated as a simple flag station for its first year, then on 7 March 1892 the railway station was opened. It was an important stop before entering the Manawatū Gorge, on the Palmer...

Date:          circa 1925

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 7th May 2024.  Late 1880s travel between Wellington and Auckland was train to New Plymouth, ship to Onehunga and local train to Auckland. First through train using the main trunk line was 1909. Two tra...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          May 7, 2024

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Date:          1972

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 4th February 2020. Part 2 of 2.  Steam trains in the Square. Moving stock. Smoke from trains. Local passenger trains. Longer train journeys – refreshment at stations. The appeal of steam trains. Moving...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          February 4, 2020

Broadcast on 28th January 2020. Part 1 of 2.  Father’s memories of Palmerston North from early 1900s. Horse-drawn tram carrying metal for roads. The 1941 flood. Stop banks, dredging. Father grew flowers in nursery (A J Shailer). Flown comm...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          January 28, 2020

A film believed to have been taken by Rod Matheson featuring the last train trip through Square, and the demolition of the station and yards over three years. Features some double exposure of Pipe bands and Marching scenes in a parade.

Total Leng...

Creator:      Rod Matheson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1960s

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 11th January, 1963. "Having had their holiday cut short through wet weather at the Chateau, these sisters, Miss P. Morgan (left) and Miss M. Morgan, of Palmerston North,...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1963-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 11 June, 1963. "Gathered on the platform of the Palmerston North railway station excitedly waiting for the railcar to take them to Woodville are these 23 young primer st...

Creator:      Manawatū Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1963-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 7 February, 1959. "The Palmerston North City Council staff held its annual picnic for the employees and the public today at Plimmerton. The carriages were well filled."

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1959-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 08 July 1961 "Two tired and hungry passengers from the derailed Limited Express began to show interest in the world as the relief train pulled into Palmerston North shor...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          July 8, 1961

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the...

Creator:      William James Young
Place:          Auckland
Date:          1909 to 1911

This photograph shows the east side of Frankton Junction Station, looking north. The North Signal Box, which was constructed in 1910, can be seen at the end of the platform.

This photograph was created by William James Young. A large variety of ...

Creator:      William James Young
Date:          circa 1910

This is a replica of a steam locomotive called "Palmerston" which served the Foxton-Palmerston North line. It was built in 1872 in Dunedin and shipped to Foxton. It is considered to be the first locomotive entirely made in the country (previous...

Creator:      Benjamin Foster
Place:          Corner of Main St and Avenue Rd, Foxton
Date:          July 6, 2020

Fireman Terry Jowett in a BB class locomotive 626 in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          October 1963 to December 1963

Two BB class locomotives (on the left is engine number 629) in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          February 1964

BB class locomotive number 629 in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          September 1963

Workers attending to BB class locomotive 626 that had derailed by the turntable in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          November 1963 to December 1963

AB class engine number 737 in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          May 1964

A close-up of a Kerrin Galvin’s, Toby the Tram, from the New Plymouth Model Engineering Club. the photo was taken at the Palmerston North Model Engineering Clubs track at Marriner Reserve, near Monrad Park, Palmerston North.

Creator:      Colin Rush
Place:          Marriner Reserve, Palmerston North
Date:          2002

Graham Harris’ NZR Single Fairly S216. It is coal fired and is seen steaming up on a wet Locomotion weekend. Present are Graham Harris, Doug Chambers, Jim Curtis and one other unknown. The men are working at the Palmerston North Model Engineering ...

Creator:      Colin Rush
Place:          Marriner Reserve, Palmerston North
Date:          2002

This image is from a series taken around 1957 that shows a view of The Square from the top of the Hopwood Clock Tower. This one looks down Main Street West, showing the railway yards.

Creator:      C H James
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1957

Ben Maeva loading sand into a locomotive from a sand tower in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          February 1964

The train is standing on the Loop opposite the station and has been signaled forward towards The Square.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          April 1964

From the left: Bill Reid (Locomotive Trainee); Maurice Hunter (Engine Driver); Bill Isted (Locomotive Trainee) and Ted Baker (Locomotive Instructor) standing in front of a DG class engine at the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          March 1964

Locomotive Trainee Maurice Quinn standing beside a J class locomotive 1238 in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 1963 to January 1964

The view from inside a DA class engine (number 1423) as it approaches The Square.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          March 1964

A close up view of the driving wheels on an unidentified steam engine in the Palmerston North railway yards.

Creator:      Roland Penhall
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          May 1964