NZR 56-foot Carriage - 1970s: 'blue' Upgrade

1970s: 'blue' Upgrade

NZR began overhauling a number of 56 ft cars for a new South Island train called the "Southerner". These carriages were painted blue with a light blue stripe bordered by gold on the sides and white roofs, and received new seating and upholstery to match. Some carriages were highly modified into buffet cars, the first buffet cars on NZR since 1918. Classified AB, these cars had a kitchenette and a full-length buffet counter installed. A similar set of cars was upgraded in the North Island for the new "Endeavour" train from Wellington to Napier. Another set of carriages (including sleeping cars) was overhauled for a new overnight train between Wellington and Auckland called the "Northerner". These cars were the first to be turned out with the new "Supavent" style of windows, and were painted a mustard yellow instead of blue. All these new carriages were running on new bogies, after a successful trial of a new "deluxe" bogie under 56 ft car A 1622. The bogie type used was initially the same as the FS steam heat vans (X27750, known as a "Kinki" bogie), and later the type of bogie pioneered under the NZR FM guards vans (X28020, known as an "FM" bogie), heavily based on the type of bogies used under the Silver Star classed X28250. This improved the ride quality of the carriages.