One hundred years since it was opened, the North Island Main Trunk remains a symbol of what railways have stood for in New Zealand's history. From the early aspirations of colonial politicians to its long and at times troubled construction; from its boom years to the later decline of passenger services; from competition with road to electrification, the North Island Main Trunk has charted the ebb and flow of New Zealand's railway history. Main Trunk: Portrait of a Railway brings together many photographs and images to tell the story of this line and its role in the development of New Zealand.

Author Biography

Christine Johnson was once a rail employee and has had a lifelong interest in railway history. She is the author of Learning the Hard Way, a history of railway accidents in New Zealand Kevin Ramshaw is general manager, Public Affairs with ONTRACK (New Zealand Railways Corporation). He began his career as a journalist, working in New Zealand and the UK. Back in New Zealand he joined TVNZ's current affairs programme Eye Witness News. He left the media in 1985 to work in the public relations industry in Wellington and Hong Kong before being a co-founder of the firm Busby Ramshaw Grice. Ruth Larsen, an ONTRACK senior communications officer, trained as a journalist before moving into the public relations industry She worked in the arts sector before joining ONTRACK.