From a standing start of little tank engines chugging along wooden rails, New Zealand built a vast rail network, made up of enough steel rail to wrap halfway around the moon.

All aboard for a voyage into the history of New Zealand's railways!

Watch here

From a standing start of little tank engines chugging along wooden rails, New Zealand built a vast rail network, made up of enough steel rail to wrap halfway around the moon.

If our rail network was once so massive, why is it now a shadow of its former glory?

In this episode we discuss:

• How Māori originally travelled overland in Aotearoa.
• The development of railways in the UK and the impact they had on society.
• Early efforts at building short railways in New Zealand.
• Premier Julius Vogel's massive expansion of the rail network.
• The importance of rail for New Zealand's economy, education, politics and culture.
• The challenges and opportunities rail created for Māori.
• The lives of those who built and maintained the rail network.
• The replacement of rail with automobiles and aircraft.
• Arguments over the return of rail

For more on this subject:

• Can't Get There From Here by Andre Brett
• Trainlands by Neill Atkinson
• Te Ara Encyclopaedia - Railways

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details