WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM

Whilst touring New Zealand in 1956 the Springbok rugby team travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand in special trains. There were two different trains used by the tour party, one on the North Island, one on the South. Each train had a special hand painted headboard attached to the front. Pictured below is the North Island headboard. NZ railways could find no further use for the headboard once the tour had finished, it was acquired by a New Zealand train driver who then added it to his already sizeable rugby memorabilia collection. Here it remained in his collection until 1995 when it was purchased by the World Rugby Museum.


The tour party about to embark on another long train journey following one of their provincial matches. The team was captained by Basie Viviers and managed by the great Danie Craven. In New Zealand leg of the tour, the Springboks played 23 matches, winning 16, losing 6 and sharing the honours in one match during a stay that lasted 3 months.	The 1956 headboard on display at the William Webb Ellis pub in Rugby where it was displayed for two years as part of the WRM Partner programme.	Members of the Springbok Rugby team stand beside the sign on the front of the railcar which took them from Auckland to Hamilton at 11.00 a.m. today. They are from left to right on the platform J Pickard, J Nel, and W Rosenberg with R Dryburgh (with hat on) and J Buchler standing on the track. This photo appears on the back of Reg Sweet's account of the tour 'The Kiwi's Conquer'
Each player was issued by New Zealand Railways a travel itinerary titled 'With the Springboks by Rail'. This pamphlet contained information on railway travel by the Springboks. ".......................On your tour of New Zealand by rail you will travel in diesel railcars of two different type. In the north island, one of the six 52-seater railcars will be used. This type was designed and built by New Zealand railways for express passenger service. It is a double-bogie vehicle measuring nearly 68 ft. overall and weighing 29 1/2 tones. Two 115 h.p diesel engines - one installed in each bogie - give the railcar a top speed of 70 m.p.h. These railcars, Aotea, Tokamaru, Pongatoru, Takitimu, and Tikitere, are named after the famous ocean-going sailing canoes which brought the Maoris to New Zealand about six centuries ago. The railcar to be used in the South Island will be one of the nine "Vulcan" cars. These were built in Great Britain to New Zealand specifications. "Vulcan" railcars weigh 36 tons and have a length of 68 ft. The six-wheeled power bogie carries a 250-275 h.p. diesel engine capable of giving a maximum speed of 75m.p.h. The normal maximum speed is 55m.p.h. More than 2,100 miles of your tour through New Zealand will be covered by railcar and by railway-owned road motor-coach. We can assure you that this part of the tour will not lack interest and variety. There is no better way to view New Zealand than from the armchair comfort of a diesel railcar. As the miles slip quickly beneath the wheels, the countryside unfolds in a vast panorama of scenic grandeur. Like South Africa, New Zealand was a difficult country in which to construct railways, and on your travels you will see many of the engineering triumphs for which our railways are famed. For instance, on the journey from Auckland to Palmerston North , you will climb the fascinating Raurimu Spiral, where the line corkscrews over itself to gain elevation, and you will pass over many high viaducts. Speaking of Viaducts, when travelling from Gisborne to Napier you will cross the Mohaka Viaduct, the highest in New Zealand and one of the highest in the world. The deck of this structure is 315ft above the river. On the first run from Timaru to Christchurch the railcar will carry you across our longest bridge, which spans the snow-fed waters of the mile-wide Rakaia River . You will pass through the longest tunnel in the British Commonwealth when you go from Wellington to Masterton. This tunnel, 5 1/2 miles long, was opened only last year. And, for good measure, we will also take you through the Commonwealth's second longest tunnel (Otira, 5 1/4 miles) when you go from Christchurch to Westport .................." The pamphlet opens out into a map of NZ

The tour special leaving Auckland for Frankton (Hamilton) on 6 June 1956, and was taken by W F Hudson. Photo copyright N Z Railway & Locomotive Society Inc - (thanks to Graeme McClare Archives Assistant)

GALLERY

Information on the team, match itinerary and travel itinerary contained in the NZ Railways itinerary. Click on the thumbnail photo to view this information.	South Island train with headboard	New Zealand Railways Waikato v Springboks special trains handbill. This was a famous victory for the Waikato team who defeated the Springboks 14 - 10 in the first match of the New Zealand leg of the tour. The train timetable gives details of stops between Auckland and Hamilton and includes fare prices. (WRM-551)

WRM-0551-lttrsa1956-wak-trains		New Zealand Railways Waikato v Springboks special trains handbill. This was a famous victory for the Waikato team who defeated the Springboks 14 - 10 in the first match of the New Zealand leg of the tour. The train timetable gives details of stops between Auckland and Hamilton and includes fare prices.
WRM-0553-itsatr1956-railways		Players itinerary issued by New Zealand Railways. - Contains information on the team, match itinerary and travel itinerary, map of NZ with places of interest.