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Opening of the first railway in New Zealand, at Christchurch, Canterbury Province, 1864. Creator: Unknown
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Opening of the first railway in New Zealand, at Christchurch, Canterbury Province, 1864. Creator: Unknown
Opening of the first railway in New Zealand, at Christchurch, Canterbury Province, 1864. Engraving from a sketch by Mr. R. Kelly. Canterbury was the first province '...to introduce the railway locomotive and the electric telegraph...The event...was one of no ordinary interest to the province, and drew together a large number of the inhabitants. Trains continued to run up and down throughout the day, and afforded gratuitous rides, as well as immense amusement, to crowds of colony-bred young people, to whom a ride in a railway-train was, perhaps, a novelty; as well as to many others, who had not enjoyed that mode of conveyance since they emigrated from the old country...The Lyttelton and Christchurch line is the beginning of a system of railways, to be carried to the north and south of the Canterbury province, which will open up millions of acres of splendid alluvial plain that lie between the coast line and the snow-capped ranges of the Southern Alps. Our Engraving takes in a distant view of those mountains, which, covered with perpetual snow, and as high as those of Switzerland, form the backbone of the Middle Island of New Zealand, traversing almost its whole length, and leaving a space of some fifty miles in width along its eastern shore'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864
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A Milestone Moment - The Opening of New Zealand's First Railway, Christchurch, Canterbury Province, 1864
EDITORS COMMENTS
This historic photograph captures a momentous occasion in the development of New Zealand - the opening of its first railway line. On this day in 1864, the people of Canterbury gathered to celebrate the introduction of rail travel to their province. The event drew together a large crowd, eager to experience the novelty and excitement of train travel.
The photograph shows trains chugging along the Lyttelton and Christchurch line, offering free rides and entertainment for young colonists who had never before experienced this mode of transportation since emigrating from Europe. In the distance, the snow-capped Southern Alps rise majestically, forming the backbone of New Zealand's Middle Island.
This moment marked not only a significant milestone in Canterbury's development but also paved the way for future railway expansion across the province and beyond. The image serves as a testament to this pivotal event in New Zealand's history, capturing the enthusiasm and anticipation of its people as they embarked on a new era of progress and growth.
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