View source for NZR RM class (Red Terror)

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Train
| background       = #3E53A4
| name             = <span style="color:fff;">NZR RM class<br />General Manager's Inspection Railcar – Red Terror</span>
| image            = File:The "Red Terror"; the railcar used by the General Manager of New Zealand Railways, 1933 ATLIB 307082.png
| imagesize        =
| caption          = "Red Terror", the railcar used by the General Manager of New Zealand Railways
| interiorimage    =
| interiorcaption  =
| service          = 1934–1940
| manufacturer     = [[New Zealand Government Railways|New Zealand Railways]]<ref name="NZMRG_s11">New Zealand Model Railway Guild, Sheet 11, Inspection Railcar, RM-1</ref>
| factory          = [[Hutt Workshops]]
| family           =
| replaced         =
| yearconstruction = 1934
| yearservice      = February 1934
| refurbishment    =
| yearscrapped     = 1941 converted into Overhead Inspection Platform Vehicle
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt      = 1
| numberservice    = None
| numberpreserved  =
| numberscrapped   =
| formation        =
| fleetnumbers =  RM 1
| capacity         = 7 passengers plus driver
| operator         = [[New Zealand Government Railways|New Zealand Railways]]
| depots           =
| lines            = All New Zealand main and branch lines
| carbody          =
| trainlength      =
| carlength        = {{convert|18|ft|3.5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} over bumpers<ref name="NZMRG_s11"/>
| width            = {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on}} over body
| height           =
| floorheight      =
| platformheight   =
| entrylevelorstep =
| art-sections     =
| doors            =
| maxspeed         = {{convert|60|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| weight           = 
| acceleration     =
| deceleration     =
| traction         =
| engine           = [[Leyland Motors|Leyland]] 4.4 litre (268 cu)<br />6-cylinder [[petrol engine]]
| poweroutput       =  {{convert|60|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| transmission     = [[Machine (mechanical)|Mechanical]]
| aux              =
| powersupply =
| hvac             =
| electricsystem =
| collectionmethod =
| uicclass         = 1-A
| aarwheels =
| bogies           =
| brakes           =
| safety           =
| coupling         =
| multipleworking  =
| gauge            = {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}}
}}
The '''Red Terror''' was a four-wheel railcar built in 1934 and used by the general manager<ref>{{cite web|url=http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23224891 |title=The "Red Terror"; the railcar used by... &#124; Items &#124; National Library of New Zealand |website=Natlib.govt.nz |date=1933-01-01 |access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref> of New Zealand Railways, [[Garnet Mackley]], for six years for inspections of the railway system, and to demonstrate the potential for using petrol- and diesel-powered railcars in New Zealand. The railcar could carry 7 people plus the driver. It was given the classification RM 1.<ref name="NZMRG_s11"/>

==Background==

From 1906 to around 1930, [[New Zealand Railways Department|New Zealand Railways]] had been experimenting with ways to provide for fast passenger services where numbers of passengers were too few to warrant a full passenger train.<ref name="Leitch_192,193">{{cite book|last1=Leitch|first1=David B.|title=Railways of New Zealand|date=1972|publisher=Leonard Fullerton|location=Auckland|isbn=0-7153-5673-9|pages=192–193}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1926-I.2.2.2.2&srpos=4|title=AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1926 Session I — D-02 Railways Statement by the Minister of Railways, The Right Hon. J. G. Coates.|website=atojs.natlib.govt.nz|page=ix|access-date=2016-06-12}}</ref> 'One locomotive and one carriage' combinations were tried in 1906 and 1929 but proved unsuccessful.<ref name="Leitch_192">{{cite book|last1=Leitch|first1=David B.|title=Railways of New Zealand|date=1972|publisher=Leonard Fullerton|location=Auckland|isbn=0-7153-5673-9|page=192}}</ref> A long succession of railcars (including petrol-engined, [[NZR RM class (Westinghouse)|petrol-electric]], [[NZR RM class (Edison battery-electric)|battery-electric]], and [[NZR RM class (Sentinel-Cammell)|steam]]) was tried from [[NZR RM class (MacEwan-Pratt)|1912]], but these were all mechanically unreliable, mechanically unsuitable, or uneconomic.<ref name="Leitch_192,193"/>

[[Garnet Mackley]] was appointed assistant general manager of New Zealand Railways on 1 December 1931,<ref name ="Bellamy">Bellamy, Alan (2000) 'Mackley, Garnet Hercules', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Volume 5. Auckland: Auckland University Press & Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. p. 323. {{ISBN|1-86940 224 3}}</ref> acting general manager in November 1932,<ref name="NZRM_14(11)">{{cite journal|last1=Headlight|title=After Forty Years – Retirement of Mr G. H. Mackley, C.M.G., – General Manager of Railways|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 February 1940|volume=14|issue=11|page=9}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref> and general manager on 1 May 1933.<ref name ="Bellamy"/> He had to "win approval" for the construction of the inspection car that became known as the Red Terror.<ref name="Bellamy"/>

A small Ford touring car that had been "mounted on two axles and used as an inspection car" had led to the building of the managerial inspection car, the Red Terror.<ref name="Leitch_193">{{cite book|last1=Leitch|first1=David B.|title=Railways of New Zealand|date=1972|publisher=Leonard Fullerton|location=Auckland|isbn=0-7153-5673-9|page=193}}</ref>

==Description==

The Red Terror was built at the NZR Hutt Workshops on a Leyland Cub chassis.<ref name="NZMRG_s11"/> It was powered by a Leyland six cylinder petrol engine, had a 4-forward, 1-reverse, gearbox, a cruising speed of 50&nbsp;mph (80&nbsp;km/h), and a maximum speed of 60&nbsp;mph (100&nbsp;km/h).<ref name="NZMRG_s11"/><ref>"Back to the Rail: A Public Tendency: Railway Manager's Views". ''The Press'', Volume LXX, Issue 21154, 3 May 1934, p. 8.</ref> The vehicle had a turntable mounted beneath it, which could be lowered onto the track surface, allowing the car to be lifted up and turned by hand to face the other direction.<ref name="NZMRG_s11"/><ref name="NZMRG_s12">New Zealand Model Railway Guild, Sheet 12, Inspection Railcar (Platform Wagon), PW-2</ref>

The name "Red Terror" came from a staff member watching it run through a station during trials. He exclaimed, "A blooming [[Phar Lap]]! The Red Terror! That's what she is" – a reference to an alternative name for the famous racehorse of that time.<ref name="NZRM_11(1)">{{cite journal|last1="We of the 'Never Never'."|title=The 'Red Terror'|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 April 1936|volume=11|issue=1|page=57}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pharlap.com.au/page_detail.php?page_id=12|title=The Phar Lap Story|website=www.pharlap.com.au|access-date=2017-03-13}}</ref> The name stuck, at least in part because of its role in carrying the general manager and other senior staff on inspections of the railway network. A contemporary writer explained, "The name is a combination of respect and affection. It neatly describes the instrument which enabled a man of Mr Mackley's endless untiring energy to cover the territory in the most unexpected fashion, so that he might arrive anywhere at any time."<ref name="NZRM_11(4)">{{cite journal|last1=Gillespie|first1=O.N.|title=The Rail-car "Maahunui" Successful Trial Runs|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 July 1936|volume=11|issue=4|page=15}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref> The car was not known by any other name by railway staff.<ref name="NZRM_11(1)"/>

==Service==

Following successful trial runs on 9 and 21 January 1934,<ref>"New Rail Car: Satisfactory Tests: Use in South Island Possible". ''The Press'', Vol LXX, Issue 21093, 19 February 1934, p. 12.</ref> the railcar was used for an inspection tour of the North Island by Mackley in February 1934.<ref>"New Rail Car: Tour of Inspection: High Speed Maintained". ''Auckland Star'', Volume LXV, Issue 26, 12 February 1934, p. 3.</ref><ref>"New Rail Car Arrival in Whangarei: Visit to Opua: Possibilities for Future". ''Northern Advocate'', 13 February 1934, p. 6.</ref><ref name="NZRM_9(2)">{{cite journal|last1=A series of pictures taken during the recent inspection, by rail car, of the North Island lines|title=General Manager, New Zealand Railways, Inspects the North Island Lines by Rail Car|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 May 1934|volume=9|issue=2|page=27}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref>

After the 5 March 1934 Paihiatua (Horoeka) Earthquake,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/quake/M+7.6,+Horoeka,+5+March+1934|title=M7.6, Horoeka, 5 March 1934|website=[[GeoNet (New Zealand)|GeoNet]]/|access-date=2017-03-13}}</ref> the "new rail-car was immediately requisitioned" so that the Chief Engineer and inspecting officers could travel through the Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, and Manawatu districts to inspect, and where necessary test, track and structures such as bridges, tunnels and culverts.<ref name="NZRM_9(1)">{{cite journal|last1=General Manager's Message|title=Railway Progress in New Zealand|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=2 April 1934|volume=9|issue=1|page=8}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref>

The railcar was then taken to Bluff by sea for inspection tours of the South Island.<ref>"Transport by Rail". ''The Press'', Volume LXX, Issue 21132, 6 April 1934, p. 10.</ref><ref>"Tour by Rail Car". ''The Press'', Volume LXX, Issue 21176, 29 May 1934, p. 12.</ref> By September 1934 Mackley reported that he had travelled over 7000 miles (11,250&nbsp;km) in the railcar and had "made a comprehensive personal inspection of the whole railway service."<ref name="NZRM_9(6)">{{cite journal|last1=General Manager's Message|title=Railway Progress in New Zealand|journal=The New Zealand Railways Magazine|date=1 September 1934|volume=9|issue=6|page=8}} Wellington: New Zealand Government Railways Department</ref> This included having travelled over every main and branch line in the [[North Island]] and [[South Island]] railway networks in the Red Terror. At each location he visited, he talked with local business interests to better understand their needs. By mid-1936 the railcar had completed over 30,000 miles (48,250&nbsp;km) in service.<ref name="NZRM_11(4)"/>

The vehicle demonstrated a previously unobtainable speed of travel. An example of note at the time was of a politician, MP and former Prime Minister, [[George Forbes (New Zealand politician)|George Forbes]], who was able in a single day to travel in the railcar from Wellington to Napier, address a conference there, and then return to Wellington.<ref name="NZRM_11(1)"/>

==Conversion and preservation==

Once the practicality of railcars had been demonstrated – the two [[NZR RM class (Leyland diesel)|Midland]], seven [[NZR RM class (Wairarapa)|Wairarapa]], and six [[NZR RM class (Standard)|Standard]] railcars having been built and proved in service – the Red Terror had served its primary purpose. Also, Mackley retired on 31 January 1940.<ref name="NZRM_14(11)"/>

The Red Terror was rebuilt in 1941 into an overhead inspection platform vehicle, and reclassified PW 2.<ref name="NZMRG_s12"/> Based at [[Otira]], it was used until 1996 for maintaining the 1500 V DC overhead for the electrified section of railway between [[Arthur's Pass]] and [[Otira]], including the [[Otira Tunnel]].

In 1996 the vehicle was transferred to [[Ferrymead Railway|Ferrymead Heritage Railway]] at Christchurch for preservation.<ref name="nzrsr.co.nz">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/view_page.php?page=6&search=false&sort=none&order=none|title=New Zealand Rolling Stock Register|website=Nzrsr.co.nz|access-date=2017-03-12}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* [http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23224891  Photo of the Red Terror shortly after construction. Photographed by Albert Percy Godber, APG-1463-1/4-G. ]
* [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eI1TjnMSMew/TYlcGlo_HiI/AAAAAAAACS0/KY2KG2-GNf8/s1600/Red+Terror+Siberia.jpg  Photo of the Red Terror at Siberia on the Rimutaka Incline. General Manager, G Mackley, on right.]

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{{NZR Locomotives}}

[[Category:Railcars of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Rail transport in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Petrol railcars]]