NZR 56-foot Carriage - 1930s-1940s: The Second Batch

1930s-1940s: The Second Batch

It was not until 1937 that further 56 ft cars were built, to a slightly different design. The new cars had different bogie spacing and a more rounded profile, to allow general route availability. They were classed A, with the initial batch being built at Otahuhu Railway Workshops. It took Otahuhu and Addington Railway Workshops until 1945 to complete the class. There was a large amount of variation in the body arrangement between batches. This primarily reflected the carriage's use – 2nd Class (X25480), 1st Class, 1st/2nd Class Composite (X25916) or Semi Sleeping - but there was also variations between carriages intended for North Island and South Island use. South Island 1st Class cars (X25495) were built with pressure ventilation and a coupe compartment at one end, while North Island 1st Class cars (X25485) used roof-based vents like 2nd Class cars, and did not include a coupe. Up to 12 2nd Class cars were converted into 20-bed Ambulance cars for use in World War 2 and after the war were converted for general use, six of which were converted for 1st Class use, with four receiving seats of a more modern design, that were later used for the Endeavour Express and The Connoisseur car. Eight out of 11 Semi Sleeper cars were rebuilt as 16-berth all-sleeper cars, one rebuilt as a 14-berth sleeper because it retained the original 4-berth cabin. 56-ft cars quickly became the mainstay of the passenger fleet, being used on the NZR's important trains in their red livery.