GVR’s Ww Class locomotive (number 644, built in 1915), steams through Waikato
Trainspotters have seen a steam engine puffing through the King Country recently and more services are likely to follow.
Once its latest tour has been completed, the Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) engine will, most likely, run shorter tours from Taumarunui, said Glenn Deed, the organisation’s chair.
“Taumarunui has a lot of railway heritage and history. We want to acknowledge this by running more trips in the King Country in the near future.”
The Great North Island Steam and Diesel Rail Tour left GVR’s base in Glenbrook, southern Auckland, and passed through Hamilton and the King Country last week.
The steam engine will stay in Feilding while GVR’s heritage diesels head to Hawke’s Bay. Joining forces again, the locomotives will take part in the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand 50th anniversary. The organisation – Fronz – advocates for heritage rail operations in NZ.
“After the withdrawal of steam engines in the late 1960s, Fronz worked hard to bring it back. We are celebrating that heritage operators are now, from the 1980s, able to run steam trains on the national network. This is a huge achievement for heritage rail in New Zealand.”
Various events will be held during Matariki weekend, June 20-22, operating from Palmerston North.
“On the Friday, we have a grand cavalcade of heritage engines, cab rides on the locomotives and shuttle trains to Feilding. Saturday will see a double headed (two steam locomotives) steam trip up the trunk line to Ohakune and Sunday has a diesel train, including four locomotives and at least 20 carriages, to Taumarunui from Palmerston North.”
GVR’s trains are then expected to pay more than just a flying visit on their return home.
“We have to confirm the dates exactly, but it will probably be late July or early August when we bring the steam engine back to Glenbrook,” Deed said. “So, we’re hopeful there will be some ‘steam stuff’ out of Taumarunui and around the King Country then.”
