Ellis and Burnand Tramway, Ongarue


The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was from 1922 to 1958 a long forest railway near Ongarue in the central North Island of New Zealand with a gauge of.

Route

The construction of the rail track started in 1922, after J. W. Ellis and Harry Burnand had built their timber mill at Ongarue in 1914.
The Ellis & Burnand Tramway was well engineered with a spiral, a tunnel, two great trestle bridges and very impressive cuttings. It was the longest bush tramway in New Zealand.
In 1955 the tramway was closed because of flood damage, followed by the mill closure in 1966.

Locomotives

s Climax, Heisler/Stearns and A & G Price were used on the tramway. The Climax operated between the mill and the Waione camp siding while the A & G Price ran from there to the bush loading points.
WheelsTypeManufacturerNumberYearConditionOwnerUsage
0-4-4-0BTClimax Manufacturing Co.#16501924StoredBush Tramway Club1924-1960
0-4-4-0BTHeisler/Stearns#10821904OverhaulBush Tramway Club1947-1966
0-4-4-4-4-0TA & G PriceMatilda1912Out of service1923-1951
0-4-4-4-4-0TA & G PriceMartha1912Out of service1923-1926
0-4-4-0BTBClimax Manufacturing Co.#12031913StoredWest Coast Historical & Me-
chanical Society, Shantytown		1953-1963
0-4-4-0TEA & G Price#1111923OverhaulBush Tramway Club1944-1958
4-2-0ChevroletUnknown

Timber trail

The right of way of the tramway is now being used as the Timber Trail, which can be used on foot or bike.