NZR RM class (Model T Ford)

The engine and transmission used for Ford Model T cars served as the basis of these railcars, which came to resemble a red box on wheels.

Unfortunately, they did not prove as successful or as popular as hoped, so, after their trial period, steam-hauled carriage trains were reinstated for all services and the railcars were sent to work in Southland.

In Southland, the Model T Ford railcars were assigned to the Waikaia and the Wyndham (Glenham) branches and began operating in late May 1926.

This was in part due to their wheel arrangement; bogies give a more comfortable ride than the two separate axles used by these particular railcars.

On the Waikaia Branch, the Model T Ford railcars were unpopular with the local residents and were neither successful themselves nor able to generate enough traffic to warrant replacement with a more popular carriage service.

During summer and other holiday seasons, it runs services from Pleasant Point station multiple times daily.