NSTH - Mount Nicholas 1991 Mercedes livestock convoy

This is a small selection of a large number of shots taken during August 9, 1991, of a NSTH shift of 507 cattle beasts taken out of Mount Nicholas and Glen Echo stations in Southland for the Castlerock sale, in Northern Southland.

Due to one of the worst winters on record that year, the 12- Mercedes and a solitary MAN only loaded the bottom decks as the roads were so soft and compromised, it was deemed too dangerous to go to two decks. As well as heavy rain, a heavy snow-fall on the way out made for a difficult day behind the wheel, and four hours after coming out, a couple of major slips, as well as a couple of culverts that blew out, putting  the road out of action. Together with the Von river flooding, and the deep snow that sidelined much of the road for several weeks, these drivers were lucky to get out and it was a good call by station owner Robert Butson, who judged the conditions almost to the hour.

Click here – to read the article on the October 1991 issue of New Zealand Trucking Magazine.

This shoot is also noteworthy as it shows a time of transition following the deregulation of the road transport industry in 1984.

Tractors and tri-axle semi-trailers, six-wheeler trucks and four-axle trailers paved the way for the eight-wheeler trucks and five-axle trailers of the modern era. 

Deregulation liberated the industry from the distance licences that protected rail from competition up until the mid eighties.

The livestock haulage industry was exempt by then and was allowed to travel further than other sectors of the road transport industry, but the lifting of those regulations were a huge boon to the rural sector, and many of bulk loads such as super phosphate, lime, building materials, coal and other bulk materials needn’t come by rail, and reduced handling and the cost of freight.

However, it also meant that competition could enter previously protected regions which greatly stimulated the industry.