South Island Limited Express poster

South Island Limited Express poster

Following the lead of the North Island main trunk line, the South Island's main line had its own 'Limited’ Express from 1949 until 1970, when it was replaced by the new Southerner service. The ordinary Christchurch-Dunedin express was the last scheduled steam-hauled service in New Zealand. Its withdrawal on 25 October 1971 brought the steam age to an end on New Zealand railways. 

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What do you know?

Jeff Cutting

Posted: 06 Oct 2011

I worked as a booking clerk at Christchurch Station (the large brick building) from 1966 to April 1968, and I seem to recall the Invercargill Express running as a three steam engine special for Christmas 1967, and with a diesel locomotive just before Easter 1968... so I'm wondering why everyone says it was all steam until 1970???