The year 2012 is important to those studying railway histories in New Zealand as it affords the opportunity to celebrate 150-year anniversaries involving two early railways in the North and South Islands. They appear on the surface to have nothing in common, but actually there is more than meets the eye. Both were industrial lines developed for carrying raw materials, respectively ore (Nelson) and coal (Drury) from inland locations to their nearest ports. Both led either directly or indirectly to the wider development of railway operations throughout the country and strangely, both were associated with Austrian geologist Ferdinand Von Hochstetter. They were developed following his inspections in 1859/60, subsequent recommendations and his report.
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