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Year Built: 1913
Weight: 25 Tonnes Location: Shantytown, Greymouth Status: Awaiting Overhaul Acquired for Preservation: 1969 History: 1913 - 1915 Potate Timber Co, Matapuna 1916 - 1938 Pukuweka Sawmills, Mananui 1939 - 1944 Ellis & Burnand, Mananui 1944 - 1953 Ellis & Burnand, Mangapehi 1953 - 1963 Ellis & Burnand, Ongarue 1963 - 1968 Idle, Ongarue 1968 - 1970 Stored, Mangapehi 1970 - 1971 Stored, Greymouth 1971 - 1973 Stored, Shantytown 1973 - 1979 Restored Shantytown 1980 - 2002 Operational, Shantytown 2002 Stored, Shantytown 1203 at Petone workshops in 1913. Photo: Percy Godber, Alexander Turnbull Library. Climax 1203 arrived in New Zealand in 1913 and was like most other locomotives brought from overseas was in kitset form. The many pieces of 1203 were taken to the NZR's Petone workshops in Wellington and assembled. The photo above shows 1203 as new at Petone. Like other bush loco's, 1203 would have been towed to the closest siding to where she was to work. The Pukuweka Sawmill at Mananui and Ellis and Burnand's mill shared parts of the same tramway, and over time 1203 was acquired by Ellis and Burnand and worked at three of their Central North Island mill sites. It is reported that 1203 was the last Climax in regular service in New Zealand, being used to bring down the sawn timber from the mill yard to the NZR sidings; in January 1963, 1203 hauled her last shunt at Ongarue, ending over 60 years of Climax locomotives operating in New Zealand. In the mid 1960's, 1203 was saved for preservation by John Melse, along with 1203, Mr Melse also helped save 1650, 552 and a Heisler. The three Climax's were purchased from Fletcher Timbers. After being shipped from the North Island in December 1970, 1203 was stored for about six months in Greymouth until finally arriving at her new home, Shantytown, in mid 1971. It is interesting to note that this is the first and only Climax ever to come to the South Island. Climax 1203 was officially recommissioned at Shantytown on 24 January 1980, making this the first Climax to operate in the South Island, and the only operational Climax in New Zealand. During the restoration 1203, was fitted with air brakes, which required an air compressor to be fitted; unlike most locomotives 1203's air compressor was mounted on the right hand or drivers side of the smoke box. Along with this a new bunker was made by Dispatch Engineering, and electric lighting refitted with the head light coming off a tram. 1203 was operated at Shantytown under private ownership until June 1988, at this time Shantytown brought 1203. After giving good service for over 20 years Climax 1203 was withdrawn from service in October 2002, due to problems being found in the boiler. Currently 1203 sits forlornly in the Shantytown engine shed, awaiting her turn in the restoration que. For a time 1203 was the only operational Climax in the Southern Hemisphere.
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