The first railway line in New Zealand ran from Christchurch to Ferrymead and was completed in 1863.
Issue information
The centenary of the event was commemorated by an issue of two stamps.
Stamp Bulletin
This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 29 on 1 November 1963.
Acknowledgments: Bulletin scanned and provided by John Biddlecombe of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: http://www.nzsgb.org.uk/
Product Listing for Centenary of Railways
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 3d gummed stamp. This stamp featured the early locomotive Pilgrim and a 69 ton 750 hp "Dg" class A1A-A1A diesel-electric locomotive. Thirty of these English Electric locomotives were supplied to New Zealand Railways in 1955 and 1956. |
3d |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 1s 9d gummed stamp. This stamp featured a 108 ton 1500 hp 'Df" class 2-Co-Co-2 diesel-electric engine, one of ten brought into service in 1954 and 1955, drawing an express train, with Mount Ruapehu in the background. |
1s 9d |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 25 November 1963 |
|---|---|
| Designers: | New Zealand Railways, Wellington |
| Printers: | Thomas De La Rue, England |
| Stamp size: | 40mm x 24mm |
| Sheet size: | 120 stamps per sheet |
| Process: | Photogravure |
| Perforation gauge: | 14 |
| Paper type: | Multiple NZ and star watermark |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 29 February 1964. |