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.

F class locomotives
Frank Roberts made this model in 1930 to run on his garden railway. It represents locomotive F 245, which began working in Auckland in 1874. The F class was one of the most successful classes of locomotives to serve New Zealand Railways. F class locomotives ran for over ninety years - from 1872 until the withdrawal of the last survivors in 1964.

The general specifications for a small but powerful general-purpose locomotive suitable for use on a light, narrow-gauge network were developed by New Zealand Railways' engineers. The first orders were placed with British manufacturers in 1871, and by 1888 a total of eighty-eight F class locomotives had been delivered to New Zealand.

F class locomotives worked on every part of the railway network and soon acquired a reputation for speed, versatility, and power. They could haul light passenger trains at speeds of up to 70 kph, and loads of up to 800 tonnes on level track.

Nine F class locomotives survive.
F 12 is in storage at Ferrymead, Christchurch.
F 13 is being restored at Ferrymead, Christchurch.
F 111 is under restoration at Ocean Beach, Dunedin.
F 150 is stored at Ashburton.
F 163 is owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand and under overhaul at Feilding.
F 180 is under restoration at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland.
F 185 is operational at the Bush Tramway Club, Pukemiro, in the Waikato.
F 230 is on display in Hamilton.
F 233 in storage at Glenbrook, South Auckland.