an NZR Ed with livestock wagons from Johnsonville enters Wellington yard, 1940s

There used to be stockyards just south of Raroa on this branch line. With their long rigid wheelbase (1-Do-2 type) the Ed class were hard on the track of this curvy branch and when the tri-bo Ew became available in the early 1950s they were used instead.  For lots more see the book Railway Electification in Australia and New Zealand. (Bill Stewart pic)