Details

Product of Pikita
Designed and crafted in New Zealand

Made from FSC certified poplar - which guarntees products come from enviromentally and socially responsibly managed sources

280mm x 210mm x 9mm

Christchurch’s tramway began to develop in 1880 when a standard gauge line was built from the city’s railway station to Cathedral Square in the centre of the city. Five Kitson steam tram motors originally hauled double-decked trailers. These steam tram motors were used for occasional duties through the electric era.

The first electric line opened in 1905 to the northern suburb of Papanui. It took about ten more years to electrify all the steam operated routes. The extensive use of trailers was an unusual feature of the system. Most of the Victorian rolling stock continued to be used throughout the electric era. The last new line was built in 1922, but low-density routes began to be abandoned eight years later.

the first electric trams had heaters, air brakes and other features not seen elsewhere in New Zealand for some years. The fleet of powerful four-motor cars with automatic acceleration introduced in 1922 were also progressive for their time.