Model steam locomotive

Te Papa's collection of model locomotives and rolling stock is largely the work of craftsman and railway enthusiast Frank Roberts (1882-1963). Born in 1882, Roberts spent seventeen years as a cleaner, fireman, and driver for the Railways Department. He and his brother Jack then became partners in an electrical firm, although much of Roberts' time was spent developing a garden railway at his home in Epsom, Auckland.

An accurate record

Roberts built 1:24 scale models of New Zealand steam locomotives. He worked from photographs, close observation, and his own memories, rather than from plans. His model locomotives and his brother George's models of rolling stock provide an accurate record of the equipment of the Railways Department from the 1870s to the 1930s.

Centennial highlight

The high point of Roberts' career as a model maker came when he was commissioned by the Railways Department to operate a large working layout at the Centennial Exhibition (1939-1940) in Wellington. Thousands of visitors saw the model railway, and many considered it the Exhibition's greatest attraction.

Acquisition

In 1950, Roberts sold his models to the Railways Department. They were widely exhibited for many years, and Roberts was employed to maintain them to museum display standard. In 1993, just before it was privatised, New Zealand Rail Ltd gifted its collection of heritage models, including more recent work by other model makers, to Te Papa.

UB class locomotives

Frank Roberts built this model of New Zealand Railways' UB class locomotive UB 371 in 1948. The first of the class entered service in 1898. Ten had been ordered the previous year from Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, USA. They were so successful that another ten were ordered from Baldwin's in 1901, as well as two 'samples' from two other American makers - Brooks Locomotive Works, New York, and Richmond Locomotive and Machine Works, Pennsylvania. UB 371 was the Richmond locomotive. Unlike all the others of its class, it was not a success. It was underpowered and considered too unreliable to work on express trains. It spent its working life in Canterbury, and was scrapped in 1933. No examples of the UB class have been preserved.