Locomotive [Oberursel]
Maker and role
Oberursel/Deutz Locomotive Works, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1911
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
F1014.2002
Production period
Description
Oberursel 0-4-0 circa 1915 petrol powered industrial locomotive. Single cylinder Deutz petrol machine. Known as Lizzie. One of the oldest petrol powered locomotives.
2 x Tipper bucket carts have oblong metal base framing with space to fit wheels. Exterior of tipper bucket is painted green. Chain attachments on bucket.
2 x Tipper bucket carts have oblong metal base framing with space to fit wheels. Exterior of tipper bucket is painted green. Chain attachments on bucket.
Brief History
This locomotive was built by Oberursel in 1912 for the Thames Valley District Council and, after delays caused by a shipping strike in Europe, it arrived in New Zealand 1913. It came with 10 tipping hopper trucks and spent much of its life in the district on roading projects. It started work in the winter of 1913 on the metalling of the Pipiroa to Waitakaruru road and in 1922 it was pictured working on road works in the Ngatea area. These tramways were all either 2 foot or 600mm gauge which is narrower than the New Zealand standard of 3 foot 6 inches (1067mm).
In the early 1940s it was sold to Mr. W. S. Miller of New Zealand Mercury Mines Ltd. at Puhipuhi in Northland. At some point between 1920 and 1940, it was regauged from 2 foot to 3 foot 6 inches, as were the 10 hopper wagons. Regauging to meant it could be used to carry cinnabar ore from the quarry for processing. It eventually fell into disuse and was left at the site after the mine closed in 1945, when the demand for mercury for use in ammunition dropped off. In 1967 Mr. Miller donated it to the MOTAT along with two of the tipper trucks.
MOTAT’s Oberursel is, today, a rare and significant survivor of an early internal-combustion locomotive. It is the oldest preserved internal combustion locomotive in New Zealand and the only German built example in the country. It is also one of very few Oberursel locomotives that still survives in such good condition.
Between 2005 and 2022 the locomotive has been restored and in October 2022 it was driven under its own power for the first time in 40 years. Going forward, it will be operated by the museum for Live Day collection activations on the Western Springs Railway.
In the early 1940s it was sold to Mr. W. S. Miller of New Zealand Mercury Mines Ltd. at Puhipuhi in Northland. At some point between 1920 and 1940, it was regauged from 2 foot to 3 foot 6 inches, as were the 10 hopper wagons. Regauging to meant it could be used to carry cinnabar ore from the quarry for processing. It eventually fell into disuse and was left at the site after the mine closed in 1945, when the demand for mercury for use in ammunition dropped off. In 1967 Mr. Miller donated it to the MOTAT along with two of the tipper trucks.
MOTAT’s Oberursel is, today, a rare and significant survivor of an early internal-combustion locomotive. It is the oldest preserved internal combustion locomotive in New Zealand and the only German built example in the country. It is also one of very few Oberursel locomotives that still survives in such good condition.
Between 2005 and 2022 the locomotive has been restored and in October 2022 it was driven under its own power for the first time in 40 years. Going forward, it will be operated by the museum for Live Day collection activations on the Western Springs Railway.
Media/Materials
Other name
Lizzie
Credit Line
Oberursel/Deutz Locomotive Works. Circa 1911. Locomotive [Oberursel], F1014.2002. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Related exhibitions
Public comments
Built in 1912 and arrived in NZ in 1913 for use on Hauraki Plains. Sold to NZ Mercury Mines in 1940 for use at Puhipuhi in Northland. To MOTAT 1968
- David Martin posted 4 years ago.
The loco was originally built before the Deutz company took over Oberursel in 1920.
- David Martin posted 4 years ago.
The loco is part way through a complete rebuild to operating condition and will possibly be finished in 2020.
- David Martin posted 4 years ago.