NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY Marked LION Push-Key PANCAKE RAILROAD PADLOCK Circa 1890

THERE IS NO KEY for this padlock. (On shackle) New Zealand (Government) RAILROAD Padlock.

This type of Push-Key "Pancake" 6-Lever padlock was adopted by the New Zealand Railways in an effort to stop endemic THIEVERY that had plagued their operations for many years. Most earlier locks were 2 or 3 "Lever" padlocks, the introduction of a more complex 6-Lever was SUPPOSED to prevent the locks being so-easily PICKED. These "Lion" Padlocks were produced in the UK & marketed as a new form of HIGH SECURITY padlock. Many different types of 6-Lever Push-Key "Pancake" 6-Lever padlocks were utilised by the N.

But MOST were NOT marked as RAILROAD PROPERTY. This padlock an obvious and EARLY? This padlock's shackle has deeply impressed letters "NZR" & as-such the ONLY SUCH EXAMPLE that I have EVER OWNED. These padlocks SADLY were NOT the solution that the N. Railways had hoped them to BE.

Clever criminals (& crooked NZR staff) soon realised that there was an EASY WAY to circumvent the "higher security" that these new & supposedly more complex 6-Lever padlocks were supposed to offer. Repeatedly inserting a wooden "TT2" (Ice-block) stick, that had been suitably chewed & softened, into the Push-Key orifice would eventually cause the ice-block stick to conform to the shape of the 6 Lever configuration required to open the padlock. Then they could easily file-up a metal key of their own & open at will.

HISTORY of the New Zealand GOVERMENT RAILWAY MONOPOLY.. A Minister of Railways was responsible for the department and was a member of the New Zealand Cabinet.

A few private companies built railways in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, Waimea Plains Railway, and Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company. One exception to this rule was the Ohai Railway Board in Southland, which was owned by the State Mines department and a local county council until its dissolution in 1990. The first major route was completed between Christchurch and Dunedin in 1878, later extended to Invercargill the following year. The North Island Main Trunk, linking capital city Wellington with the largest city Auckland, opened in 1908 after 23 years of construction.

At the network's peak in 1952, about 100 branch lines were operating. Large-scale closures of branch railway lines began in the 1960s and 1970s. The network was initially protected from road transport competition under the Transport Licensing Act 1931, but this protection was gradually eased until its total abolition in 1983, along with the deregulation of the land transport industry.

The networks of the North and South Islands were independent of one another until the introduction of the inter-island roll-on roll-off rail ferry service in 1962 by the Railways Department, now branded The "Interislander". We will happily COMBINE these....... Any questions please message me well before my listing's end-time. Add a map to your own listings.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Tools, Hardware & Locks\Locks, Keys". The seller is "phillip_in_new_zealand" and is located in this country: NZ.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Modified Item: No