Stationary Train Set To Move!

One of the Otago Settlers’ Museum’s major attractions is about to depart – albeit temporarily.

As part of the Museum’s multi-million dollar upgrade, work will begin this week on a new shed to house the historic locomotive Ja1274. Contractors, Fulton Hogan, will begin by laying down the track to pull the locomotive Ja1274 out of the current shed on either Wednesday 20 or Thursday 21 July – depending on how the track-laying progresses. Once moved, Ja1274 will stay under wraps and behind the fenced site until mid-August when it will move into the newly completed shed.

Friends and supporters will be able to follow this special event via the OSM’s new webcam accessible through the Museum’s website (www.otago.settlers.museum). Following the locomotive’s move, the webcam will record the building progress of the new Stage Four Foyer.

The 146-tonne locomotive Ja1274 is the 35th and last of its class built at Dunedin's Hillside Railway Workshops between 1946 and 1956. It has been on display since 1975. Capable of speeds exceeding 100kmh, the Ja class locomotives powered the express train passenger service in the South Island, until they were superseded by Dj class diesels in 1971.

The Settlers’ Museum is also home to Josephine, which entered service in 1872, and was one of the first steam locomotives working in the Dunedin area.