NZR RM class (Westinghouse)

The NZR RM class Westinghouse railcar was an experimental railcar built by the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) in 1914. Although not the first railcar to operate in New Zealand, it was the first to enter revenue service.

In the early 20th century, NZR sought a means of providing economic services on lines with low traffic, including some suburban routes and to provide a faster alternative to mixed trains on rural lines. It aimed to develop a light self-powered vehicle that could operate economically even with low passenger levels. The MacEwan Pratt petrol railcar of 1912 did not pass its tests and never entered revenue service. It was dismantled in May 1913; the next experiment with railcar technology did not take place until 1914, when the Westinghouse railcar was developed. It re-used the classification of RM 1 that had been given to the MacEwan-Pratt railcar.

RM 1 was the solitary example of its type. The traction equipment, underframe, and bogies were provided by British Westinghouse and were fitted to a wooden body that had been built by NZR at the Petone Workshops. The wooden body largely resembled a railway passenger carriage, though the driving compartments fitted at each end had an appearance similar to contemporary trams. The six-cylinder petrol engine and 67 kW (90 hp) generator were housed in a compartment at one end of the railcar, and the current produced was fed to two 45 kW (60 hp) electric traction motors, one fitted to each bogie. This allowed the 14.17-metre (46.5 ft) long, 18-tonne (18-long-ton; 20-short-ton) railcar to travel at speeds up to 56 km/h (35 mph). In its gas-illuminated passenger compartment, it had provisions for 48 passengers.

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