<p>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.</p><p>All aboard for a voyage into the history of New Zealand's railways! </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/l2Y84Kd-9AI?si=5cVqXmnjITVPW3uf">Watch here</a></p><p>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.</p><p>If our rail network was once so massive, why is it now a shadow of its former glory?</p><p>In this episode we discuss:</p><ul><li>How Māori originally travelled overland in Aotearoa.</li><li>The development of railways in the UK and the impact they had on society.</li><li>Early efforts at building short railways in New Zealand.</li><li>Premier Julius Vogel's massive expansion of the rail network.</li><li>The importance of rail for New Zealand's economy, education, politics and culture.</li><li>The challenges and opportunities rail created for Māori.</li><li>The lives of those who built and maintained the rail network.</li><li>The replacement of rail with automobiles and aircraft.</li><li>Arguments over the return of rail </li></ul><p>For more on this subject:</p><ul><li>Can't Get There From Here by Andre Brett</li><li>Trainlands by Neill Atkinson</li><li><a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/railways ">Te Ara Encyclopaedia - Railways</a> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/the-aotearoa-history-show?share=elf_audio_2018857032">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>
