Blue FernA passenger train of 56-foot steel-panelled carriages replacing 'Silver Fern'
railcars on the North Island Main Trunk when they were unavailable
Blue RattlersADK class on the
Auckland suburban network
Blue StreaksThree
NZR RM class 88 seater railcars renovated for a fast service between
Hamilton and
AucklandBumble-BeeYellow and black
Tranz Rail livery. Introduced on DC 4323 in 2001 after the Makihi collision, and officially named 'Hi-Viz'. Originally all locos were to have the Tranz Rail winged logo, but most carried 'TR' block letters on the long hood and several locos did not carry any branding (No Name).
BobtailW
W class locomotives before rebuilding
CarvanPassenger carriage with a guard's compartment at one end, classes A
F (wooden body) and A
L (steel body). Originally built to relieve a shortage of guard's vans and used on rural branch lines in place of a separate carriage and guard's van, the later A
L carvans were used in suburban service only.
Cato BlueNew Zealand Rail/Tranz Rail blue, yellow and grey livery used from 1990 to 2001. Originally NZ Rail used a darker blue, which was changed to a lighter tone by Tranz Rail.
Clockwork Orange1970s orange and yellow livery used on
DX classCoaliesCoal train, particularly from Rapahoe and Ngakawau on the West Coast to Lyttelton. Also Genesis Energy coal trains between Mount Manganui and Weavers Crossing (these trains ceased running in 2012), but not for coal trains on the Rotowaro Industrial Branch.
Corn-cobToll Rail yellow and aquamarine livery
CyclopsA restored
Wellington EMU set including DM 556
DixiesDX class locomotives
DrewrysNZR RM class 88 seater railcars
Dora the ExplorerNorthern ExplorerElephant styleMultiple locomotives coupled facing forward
'En and chickenN and
M class steam locomotives coupled together. 'En, an abbreviation of 'hen', refers to the larger N class locomotive, and chicken refers to its underpowered M class assistant.
Fairlie FlyerThe passenger train between Washdyke Junction and Fairlie along the Fairlie Branch. Also A
B 699 on the Pleasant Point Railway, which runs along part of the old branch line.
FiatsNZR RM class 88 seater railcars
Flying MatangiMatangi FP/FT class EMU 4472—so named as it shares its number with the LNER Class A3 steam locomotive 4472
Flying ScotsmanFlying TomatoA simplified version of the Fruit Salad livery, with the grey replaced with red. Applied to members of the DC, DF, DSC, and TR class locomotives in the 1980s as a cheaper alternative to the full Fruit Salad livery.
Fruit SaladNZR red and grey livery with yellow highlights, also known as International Orange
FoamerA
railfan—particularly one whose enthusiasm appears excessive
Grass Grubs88 seater railcars converted to carriages for locomotive haulage, from their green livery
Gull RoostThe
Onerahi Branch's 323-metre-long bridge across the harbour in Whangarei, because of the large number of
gulls that roosted there. The branch closed in 1933 and the bridge no longer exists.
The HillThe Johnsonville Line out of
Wellington, or the steep section of the
North Auckland Line between Newmarket and Remuera in Auckland. See Over the hill.
Hot water bottlesF
S class steam heating vans used to warm the carriages of passenger trains following the withdrawal of steam traction in 1968 (North Island) and 1971 (South Island)
HighsiderThe L, L
A, L
B, and L
C wagons—so called for their high metal (L
A, L
C) or wooden (L, L
B) sides
International OrangeA livery of yellow, orange-red and grey, more popularly known as Fruit Salad
JiggerA track inspection vehicle
KB countryThe section of the
Midland Line between
Springfield and
Arthur's Pass famous for the use of K
B class
steam locomotives between 1939 and 1968
Kingston FlyerHeritage passenger train instituted in 1972 using steam locomotives A
B 778 and A
B 795, originally between Lumsden and Kingston and later truncated to the 14 km between Fairlight and Kingston
Longest xylophone in the worldFormer road and rail bridge on the now-closed portion of the Ross Branch south of Hokitika—named for the loud rattling its planks made
LowsidersThe M, M
A, M
B, M
C, and M
CC wagons, so called for their low sides. These wagons had lower sides than the L-series 'highsider' wagons, and were often used for loads that could not fit into a highsider or did not warrant the use of one.
LokeyLocomotive on a bush tramway. Abbreviation of the term 'locomotive', but shortened by bush workers and adopted by railway enthusiasts.
MatangiFT/FT class electric multiple unit used on the Wellington suburban network, chosen in 2008 in a public competition run by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and comes from the
Māori word
matangi, meaning wind or breeze (in reference to Wellington's windy reputation)
MAXX BlueLivery on Auckland
rolling stock operated by
Transdev AucklandMidland RedLivery used in the 1920s and 1990s on passenger carriages, DM/D class
electric multiple units and some other
rolling stock. It was first trialled on the carriages of the Parnassus Express, the predecessor of the
Picton Express. Its name derives from the
London, Midland and Scottish Railway, from whom the colour was originally sourced.
No NameSeveral Tranz Rail locomotives received the 'Bumble Bee' paint scheme without any signwriting on the long hood. Mostly applied to members of the DC and DX classes.
Old redsDM/D class electric multiple units in their traditional red livery
Over the hillThe southern approach to Auckland from the North Island Main Trunk Railway at Westfield via the
North Auckland Line and
Newmarket Line. See The Hill.
Pearson's DreamE 66, nicknamed after its designer, G. A. Pearson, as it did not fulfill his ambitions
Pie Cart1. Ford Model T railcars RM 4 and RM 52. Overhead inspection vehicle PW 2
The PigDXR class locomotive 8007 and 8022
The PhoenixThe DM 216 set, stored at Hutt Workshops out of service prior to its return to service in late 2008 or early 2009
Pig DogDAR 517
Pimple faceNew cabs fitted to ten of the DG class locomotives starting with D
G 761 (TMS DG 2111) in late 1979 and ending in 1980
Popsicle1970s orange and yellow DX class livery
PulletM class—named for their lack of pulling power in comparison to other classes
The racetrackThe
Main South Line near
Rakaia, where steam-hauled passenger express trains attained high speeds
Rat hole or The HoleThe
Otira Tunnel, or the Karangahake tunnel on the East Coast Main Trunk Railway's former Waihi route
Red SetsThree-car DM/D class Tranz Metro Wellington units
Red TerrorA Leyland Cub car converted to run on rails for inspection use by the Railways Department General Manager Garnet Hercules Mackley in 1933. It was converted for uses associated with electrified lines in 1941, and after spending a few years in the
Hutt Valley, it was transferred to Otira and remained there until the
Otira Tunnel was de-electrified in 1997. It is now owned by the
Ferrymead Railway.
Rimutaka railcarsWairarapa railcars, derived from the fact they were built to operate on the Rimutaka Incline
RoadsidersThe Z class bogie vans, so called as they could be unloaded (supposedly) onto the roadside. Often used for parcels traffic, especially by Railfreight, and as luggage vans on express passenger trains, for which they were fitted with x-25330 'Timken' bogies to run at 80 km/h.
The SergeantED electric locomotive 101, so called because of the three stripes on the body
SkippyToll-liveried locomotive. Derived from Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, as Toll is an Australian company.
Super GanzThe refurbished Ganz Mavag EMU
EM 1373Tin HaresWairarapa railcars
ToastersNew Zealand EF class locomotives, because of their toaster-like appearance
Tonka ToyThe preserved TR class locomotive
Tropical1970s orange and yellow livery; used on the DX class
The TwinsDBR class Wellington-based locomotives 1200 and 1267, commonly paired for purposes such as banking south of Paekakariki. Because of this nickname, paired DBRs in Auckland are occasionally referred to as "non-identical twins", depending on their liveries.
TwinsetsNZR RM class 88 seater railcars
UnitsElectric multiple units
VelocipedeTrack-inspection jigger
Water bottleTank car filled with water, used behind preserved steam locomotives