Railway Enthusiasts Society
Encyclopedia
The Railway Enthusiasts Society Incorporated is a New Zealand railway enthusiast society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on 17 July 1958.
The Railway Enthusiasts Society incorporates the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
.
The earliest excursions saw extra carriages attached to regular passenger train services throughout both the North Island
and South Island
. The Society has also operated its own private charter train services for larger trips, an activity it still does to this day.
Some excursions have achieved legendary status, particularly by the rail heritage sector. Many members remember earlier trips such as the 19th century tank locomotive
"Meg Merriles" (a member of the F class
) running trips to Swanson
and Drury, C class
locomotives double-heading
services to Meremere and the mid-winter trips down the North Island Main Trunk.
Probably the most memorable excursion of this period was three 4-8-2
JA class
locomotives triple-heading an 18 carriage train from Auckland
to Hamilton
in 1964 – a feat which, to date, has not been repeated on New Zealand's national rail network
with steam traction
. The Society replicated this operation with classic 1950s DA class
diesel locomotive
s (the specific class members were 1410, 1429 and 1431), on the Auckland – Mt Maunganui "Seatrain" 2000 trip and Auckland – Whangarei "Waves & Wheels" trip in 2001.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the end of steam traction provided the opportunity to run locomotives from their bases at the time, to Auckland
, for preservation as part of the Society's Glenbrook Vintage Railway
project.
In 1969 small WW class locomotive 480 ran a long rail tour the length of the Midland Line
from Greymouth
to Christchurch
, then up the Main North Line from Christchurch
to Picton
, before crossing the Cook Strait
and up the North Island Main Trunk from Wellington
to Auckland
. The response from the public was phenomenal, with most vantage points packed with people, either on foot or in cars, who had come out to see the train travel north. The journey was also the subject of a National Film Unit
film "The Ride of 480". The 1920s locomotive was special to the Society because whilst based in the Auckland
(until about 1964), the engine had been used on many Society excursions around the Auckland area and was a favourite with many of the members who also worked on NZR
at the time.
The whole project was repeated the following year, when sister WW class locomotive 644 ran the same journey from Greymouth
to Auckland
over the same timeframe.
via the Wairarapa
and Taranaki regions with sister locomotive J
1236. On the last leg of the trip from Auckland
to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
, the huge train was fully booked to standing room and all vantage points along the route were also filled with people. It would turn out that this would be the last steam train to carry passengers out of Auckland City until 1985.
In 1976, due to a shortage of available carriages, NZR announced it would no longer make carriages available to organisations for charter work. The Society responded to the situation by assisting the formation of the National Federation of Rail Societies (later renamed Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand), a national body to look after the interests of all rail heritage organisations in New Zealand.
The Federation successfully negotiated for private (non motive power
) rolling stock to operate on the national rail network. In 1978, an excursion from Auckland
to Tauranga
through the recently opened Kaimai Tunnel
, operated with three Society carriages and one carriage hired from Steam Incorporated
.
's Mallet
locomotive and WW 480 along Quay Street in Auckland as part of tourism promotions. These lines, which served Port of Auckland wharves, were removed in the late 1980s and the trains were the last to carry passengers in Auckland's Central Business District until the opening of Britomart Transport Centre
in July 2003.
In 1985, permission was granted by NZR to the National Federation to operate motive power
rolling stock (including steam power) on the NZR network. In co-operating with Steam Incorporated
, the Society ran a special Auckland
-Wellington
and return rail tour the length of the North Island Main Trunk pulled by JA 1250 "Diana" and KA
945. With news helicopters, crowded roads, hills and stations greeting the train wherever it went, the Society's reputation continued to grow.
In 1988, the Society was involved in the Ferrymead 125
celebrations in Christchurch
that commemorated 125 years since the first steam drawn railway operated in New Zealand. The Society ran a rail tour from Auckland
to Christchurch
and return with its own excursion carriages, hauled by JA 1250. Once in Christchurch
, the trainset was used on numerous excursions associated with the events, including a run from Christchurch to Timaru
return and Christchurch to Arthur's Pass
and return. These latter trips also consisted of Otago Excursion Train Trust carriages and New Zealand Railways Corporation
carriages pulled by J A 1250 and J 1211 "Gloria" on its first network appearance with the then recently formed Mainline Steam
Trust.
A major feat through the decade was the operation of the Silver Fern
railcar
on almost every line it could operate on in the North Island
including the Taneatua Branch, Murupara Branch, Kinleith Branch
, Cambridge Branch, Rotowaro Branch, Mission Bush Branch, Onehunga Branch, North Auckland Line to Otiria
, Stratford - Okahukura, Waitara Branch, Kapuni Branch, Wanganui Branch and the Wairarapa Line
.
In 1991, the Society operated a European and British Rail tour, organised by John Stitchbury, known to many as "father" as a result of his deep involvement throughout the Society's history. Many who travelled on that particular tour still remember it as one of the highlights of their membership.
At Labour Weekend 1993, the Society operated, to date, the last steam powered train rides on the Onehunga Branch were operated with WW 480 – significant as the same engine had operated one of the Society's earliest excursions to Onehunga in 1962.
In 1994, Silver Stream Railway
's C 847 was steamed at Glenbrook Vintage Railway
for the first time since retiring from NZR service. In early October, it became certified for operations on mainline rails, operating the "Western Leader Flyer" between Avondale
and Waitakere
in co-ordination with Henderson
's 150th celebrations. The following day the locomotive double-headed with WW 480 to Huntly
on an excursion. During the return journey, the train was split in half and each locomotive pulled half the train side-by-side between Mercer and Pukekohe
, the only time in New Zealand history that two steam powered trains have operated in this manner.
In 1995, a South Island rail tour visited all the railway lines available to passenger charter as were possible. Included in the itinerary was haulage in the North Island
by a small DH class
heavy shunting engine
between Auckland and Hamilton, EF class
between Hamilton and Palmerston North
, and preserved DA 1471 between Palmerston North and Wellington southbound. In the South Island preserved DE
508 pulled the train down the Main North Line from Picton
to Christchurch
and a member of the DJ class
was employed on the rest of the South Island itinerary. The operation of the train to Hokitika empty for photos, down the Bluff Branch
to the Bluff
Harbour Island and along the Lyttelton Line to Lyttelton
Port were rare and unusual. So too was the final segment of the run from Hamilton to Pukekohe
, where C No. 47 (on a return day excursion between Auckland and Hamilton) double-headed the train with DA 1471 that had returned the tour from Wellington to Auckland via the Wairarapa
and Taranaki. The tour did not only cater to rail enthusiasts, but featured visits to sightseeing attractions at every stop along the way (including a non-rail side trip to Stewart Island/Rakiura
).
In 1998, with C 847 returning to its home base in the Hutt Valley, and JA 1250 not quite ready to re-enter service, the Society entered an agreement with Steam Incorporated
to hire J 1234. This engine pulled a number of excursions around the upper North Island until JA 1250 returned to network service in 1999. J 1234 has also been used on Glenbrook Vintage Railway
services, particularly on the popular Thomas Weekends
where it carries the title "Wally the Wellington Engine".
Also in 1998, the Society hired two members of the DA class from Steam Incorporated
, DA 1410 and DA 1431, for excursion service. These have been used on a large number of excursions to destinations including Rotorua
, Taumarunui
, Helensville
and Kaipara Flats
.
and return completing various sectors of travel by rail, coach
and Fullers Ferries
catamaran
. Seatrain offers a similar experience, operating between Auckland and Mount Maunganui
.
Other regular trips have included the "Snowball Express" from Auckland to Ohakune
and Mount Ruapehu
by Silver Fern railcar, "Rally Spectators Special" from Auckland to Northland for exclusive viewing of the Rally of New Zealand, "Fieldays by Fern" to the National Agricultural Fieldays
by Silver Fern railcar, and various extended tours giving thorough coverage of both the North and South Islands.
The Whangamomona Republic Day
trains are popular, with trains from Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North carrying thousands of passengers to the festivities. The fifteen carriage train operated for the 2005 event was featured in Marcus Lush
's "Off the Rails" television series.
The Society has also operated short one hour rides around the circuit formed by Auckland's Auckland - Newmarket Line, North Island Main Trunk Railway and North Auckland Line, usually pulled by JA 1250.
Overseas Tours are open to Society member's only and have included recent visits to Canada and the orthern states of the USA, recent visits to almost all the states in Australia and the most recent visit to Great Britain.
Shorter trips have also been operated purely for members to enjoy such as various launch and bus trips in the Auckland local area and a number of cruises on the steam tug William C Daldy
– the most memorable so far being a morning greet cruise and an evening farewell cruise when Queen Mary 2 visited Auckland for the first time on Saturday 17 February 2007. Regular visits to Watercare Services Rainforest Express train in the Waitakere Ranges
have also been a very regular outing for our members.
for an interesting and informative presentation and discussion on historic items and more contemporary topics that affect the rail industry in New Zealand and abroad. Topics also frequently cover highlights of society events, both past and present and offer members to 'catch up' with one another during the social supper at the conclusion of the program.
Occasionally events are held for members at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. "Railfan
's Days" are member-only days where trains re-creating the past are assembled and operated for those who want to ride and photograph them. Often items in the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
fleet that aren't seen on public operating days are brought out and operated for the benefit of Society members. These items include members of the classi diesel fleet, the steam crane
and freight wagons.
An annual tradition has been the "Midnight Whistle", an evening function on 31 December of each year where members enjoy an evening meal and rare dusk and night time steam train rides. The site when everybody disembarks in a lineside field and the train reverses, prior to roaring past is memorable in itself. A lengthy blast on the whistle echoes aroung the local farms to signal in the New Year.
The Society's Annual General Meeting
is usually held in September and covers reports on activities of the society, annual election of all officers and committee members (incumbents, by constitution, must stand down at the beginning of the meeting) and discussions on future activities. The meeting is followed up with a sumptuous meal and some form of entertainment to end the evening.
The office, not only takes excursion bookings, sells publications and answers all phone calls in relation to society and Glenbrook Vintage Railway activities, but also is the location where the Society's elected committee meets and Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trusboard and Branch meetings are held. It is thus, a very important piece of infrastructure for both entities.
The building was built in 1873 and was originally sited on the corner of Princess St and Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, beside the Onehunga Branch. The tight curve at this point on the line, resulted in the station platform having an irregular triangle shape. In 1964, the building was put up for sale and the society purchased it and moved it to the block of land it presently occupies – land designated for the future Avondale - Southdown Line
. It is believed to be the oldest railway station building in the country. An F class locomotive, F 233, was displayed at the Office site until 1984, when it was moved to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for eventual restoration.
The building has also been used for a number of social events such as the Society's 30th and 40th birthday party (with accompanied rail excursion from Auckland City on both occasions), fundraising meals (in the lead up to Glenbrook Vintage Railway's opening) and smaller members meetings and overseas tour information meetings.
The Railway Enthusiasts Society operates a museum out of the old Onehunga Railway Station, which includes a selection of railway photos, memorabilia and railway artefacts. The museum also houses the collectible New Zealand Railways cups, which can fetch over $100 each.
Also included in the collection are also a huge number of magazines the Society receives on its members' behalf, operating electric tablet machines, locomotive and carriage brass number plates, three locomotive headlines (BB
, JA and K. One of the more distinctive items, not actually on display but still in operating capacity is the 19th century light bulb which illuminates the now unisex (was females) lavatory room.
The members of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway Trust board are appointed by the Railway Enthusiasts Society committee, or in the case of the Member's Trustee, elected the Annual General Meeting
of the Railway Enthusiasts Society.
Whilst the two organisations are separate entities, the majority of those who assist the Glenbrook Vintage Railway are members of the Railway Enthusiasts Society and take an active role in the Society's activities on top of assisting the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
Objectives
The RES objectives are as follows:- To foster an intelligent interest in railways and in their operation and development generally.
- To facilitate the exchange between railway enthusiasts of information concerning the history, development, design, construction and operation of railways in New Zealand and elsewhere.
- To encourage the preservation of private and public collections of railway photographs, films, literature and equipment.
- To publish, print, distribute and authorise periodicals, books, magazines and other printed matter on topics of railway interest or related to the Society's activities.
- To arrange trips, tours and excursions to places of railway or general interest.
The Railway Enthusiasts Society incorporates the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
.
1960s
Over the years since formation, the Society has grown its reputation, both within the rail industry and publicly, by operating excursions to places of interest, both railway related and non-railway related.The earliest excursions saw extra carriages attached to regular passenger train services throughout both the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. The Society has also operated its own private charter train services for larger trips, an activity it still does to this day.
Some excursions have achieved legendary status, particularly by the rail heritage sector. Many members remember earlier trips such as the 19th century tank locomotive
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
"Meg Merriles" (a member of the F class
NZR F class
The NZR F class was the first important class of steam locomotive built to operate on New Zealand's railway network after the national gauge of 1067 millimetres was adopted. The first locomotives built for the new 1067 mm railways were two E class double Fairlies for the Dunedin and Port Chalmers...
) running trips to Swanson
Swanson Train Station
Swanson Train Station is located on the Western Line of the Auckland Railway Network.-History:* 1920: A signal box was established here.* 1925: The signal box was destroyed by fire following a lighting strike....
and Drury, C class
NZR C class (1930)
The C class consisted of twenty-four steam locomotives built to perform shunting duties on New Zealand's national rail network. It is sometimes known as the big C class to differentiate it from the C class of 1873.-History and construction:...
locomotives double-heading
Double-heading
In railroad terminology, double-heading or double heading indicates the use of two locomotives at the front of a train, each operated individually by its own crew. The practice of triple-heading involves the use of three locomotives....
services to Meremere and the mid-winter trips down the North Island Main Trunk.
Probably the most memorable excursion of this period was three 4-8-2
4-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
JA class
NZR Ja class
The NZR JA class were a type of 4-8-2 steam locomotive used on the New Zealand railway network. The class was built in two batches, with the second batch possessing some differences from the first...
locomotives triple-heading an 18 carriage train from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
in 1964 – a feat which, to date, has not been repeated on New Zealand's national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
with steam traction
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. The Society replicated this operation with classic 1950s DA class
NZR DA class
The NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive....
diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s (the specific class members were 1410, 1429 and 1431), on the Auckland – Mt Maunganui "Seatrain" 2000 trip and Auckland – Whangarei "Waves & Wheels" trip in 2001.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the end of steam traction provided the opportunity to run locomotives from their bases at the time, to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, for preservation as part of the Society's Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
project.
In 1969 small WW class locomotive 480 ran a long rail tour the length of the Midland Line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
from Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, then up the Main North Line from Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
to Picton
Picton, New Zealand
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001...
, before crossing the Cook Strait
Cook Strait
Cook Strait is the strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east....
and up the North Island Main Trunk from Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. The response from the public was phenomenal, with most vantage points packed with people, either on foot or in cars, who had come out to see the train travel north. The journey was also the subject of a National Film Unit
National Film Unit
The National Film Unit was a state-owned film production organisation in New Zealand. Founded in 1941, it mostly produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film production facility in the country...
film "The Ride of 480". The 1920s locomotive was special to the Society because whilst based in the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
(until about 1964), the engine had been used on many Society excursions around the Auckland area and was a favourite with many of the members who also worked on NZR
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
at the time.
The whole project was repeated the following year, when sister WW class locomotive 644 ran the same journey from Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
over the same timeframe.
1970s
In 1972, JA locomotive "Diana" was brought to AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
via the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
and Taranaki regions with sister locomotive J
NZR J class (1939)
The NZR J class steam locomotives were a class of locomotive used in New Zealand. Following the success of the K class on NZR main lines, there was an urgent need for a modern, powerful locomotive capable of running over secondary lines laid with lighter rails. Thus a new "Mountain" 4-8-2 type...
1236. On the last leg of the trip from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
, the huge train was fully booked to standing room and all vantage points along the route were also filled with people. It would turn out that this would be the last steam train to carry passengers out of Auckland City until 1985.
In 1976, due to a shortage of available carriages, NZR announced it would no longer make carriages available to organisations for charter work. The Society responded to the situation by assisting the formation of the National Federation of Rail Societies (later renamed Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand), a national body to look after the interests of all rail heritage organisations in New Zealand.
The Federation successfully negotiated for private (non motive power
Motive power
In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
) rolling stock to operate on the national rail network. In 1978, an excursion from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
through the recently opened Kaimai Tunnel
Tunnels in New Zealand
This is a link page for railway, road and waterway tunnels, including hydroelectric intakes and tailraces and gun battery tunnels. It includes artificial chambers but excludes New Zealand caves and New Zealand mines.-For hydroelectric usage:...
, operated with three Society carriages and one carriage hired from Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki Railway Station, Paekakariki at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Unlike...
.
1980s
In 1981 and 1986, the Society operated steam hauled trains with Glenbrook Vintage RailwayGlenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
's Mallet
Mallet
A mallet is a kind of hammer, usually of rubber,or sometimes wood smaller than a maul or beetle and usually with a relatively large head.-Tools:Tool mallets come in different types, the most common of which are:...
locomotive and WW 480 along Quay Street in Auckland as part of tourism promotions. These lines, which served Port of Auckland wharves, were removed in the late 1980s and the trains were the last to carry passengers in Auckland's Central Business District until the opening of Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
in July 2003.
In 1985, permission was granted by NZR to the National Federation to operate motive power
Motive power
In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a...
rolling stock (including steam power) on the NZR network. In co-operating with Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki Railway Station, Paekakariki at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Unlike...
, the Society ran a special Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
-Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and return rail tour the length of the North Island Main Trunk pulled by JA 1250 "Diana" and KA
NZR Ka class
The NZR KA class of 1939 was a class of mixed traffic 4-8-4 steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's railway network. They were built after the success of the K class to meet the increasing traffic demands of the New Zealand Railways Department...
945. With news helicopters, crowded roads, hills and stations greeting the train wherever it went, the Society's reputation continued to grow.
In 1988, the Society was involved in the Ferrymead 125
Ferrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
celebrations in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
that commemorated 125 years since the first steam drawn railway operated in New Zealand. The Society ran a rail tour from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and return with its own excursion carriages, hauled by JA 1250. Once in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, the trainset was used on numerous excursions associated with the events, including a run from Christchurch to Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
return and Christchurch to Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between the West Coast and Canterbury regions, 140 km from Christchurch and 95 km from Greymouth. The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a...
and return. These latter trips also consisted of Otago Excursion Train Trust carriages and New Zealand Railways Corporation
New Zealand Railways Corporation
KiwiRail Network, formerly ONTRACK , is the infrastructure arm of KiwiRail. The ONTRACK trading name was introduced in 2004 after the government repurchased all of New Zealand's rail infrastructure from Toll NZ. It does not operate revenue rolling stock...
carriages pulled by J A 1250 and J 1211 "Gloria" on its first network appearance with the then recently formed Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over rail lines throughout New Zealand...
Trust.
1990s
The Society continued to offer a broader range of excursions and tours throughout the 1990s despite the loss of JA 1250 from service for a major overhaul.A major feat through the decade was the operation of the Silver Fern
NZR RM class (Silver Fern)
This article is about the New Zealand railcar service and the railcars themselves. For other uses, see Silver Fern .The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
on almost every line it could operate on in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
including the Taneatua Branch, Murupara Branch, Kinleith Branch
Kinleith Branch
The Kinleith Branch railway line is located in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The line was constructed by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company, Taupo Totara Timber Company and rebuilt by the Public Works Department primarily to serve the Kinleith Mill in 1952...
, Cambridge Branch, Rotowaro Branch, Mission Bush Branch, Onehunga Branch, North Auckland Line to Otiria
Otiria
Otiria is a rural locality in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It neighbours Moerewa to the east, with the nearest major town, Kawakawa a few kilometres further eastwards. Other nearby localities include Pokapu to the south, Orauta to the west, and Hupara to the north.-...
, Stratford - Okahukura, Waitara Branch, Kapuni Branch, Wanganui Branch and the Wairarapa Line
Wairarapa Line
The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
.
In 1991, the Society operated a European and British Rail tour, organised by John Stitchbury, known to many as "father" as a result of his deep involvement throughout the Society's history. Many who travelled on that particular tour still remember it as one of the highlights of their membership.
At Labour Weekend 1993, the Society operated, to date, the last steam powered train rides on the Onehunga Branch were operated with WW 480 – significant as the same engine had operated one of the Society's earliest excursions to Onehunga in 1962.
In 1994, Silver Stream Railway
Silver Stream Railway
The Silver Stream Railway is a heritage railway at Silverstream in the Hutt Valley near Wellington, New Zealand. It regularly operates preserved New Zealand Railways Department locomotives along a restored section of the Hutt Valley Line before a deviation was built in 1954.- History :The...
's C 847 was steamed at Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
for the first time since retiring from NZR service. In early October, it became certified for operations on mainline rails, operating the "Western Leader Flyer" between Avondale
Avondale Train Station
Avondale Railway Station is on the Western Line of the Auckland railway network. The proposed Avondale–Southdown Line would connect to the Western Line just east of the station.- History :...
and Waitakere
Waitakere Train Station
Waitakere Railway Station is located in the Waitakere suburb/village at the end of the Western Line of the Auckland Suburban Network in New Zealand and is currently the terminus for most Western Line services....
in co-ordination with Henderson
Henderson, New Zealand
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...
's 150th celebrations. The following day the locomotive double-headed with WW 480 to Huntly
Huntly, New Zealand
Huntly is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 93 kilometres south of Auckland and 35 kilometres north of Hamilton. It is situated on the North Island Main Trunk Railway and straddles the Waikato River.Huntly was called Rahui Pokeka when...
on an excursion. During the return journey, the train was split in half and each locomotive pulled half the train side-by-side between Mercer and Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
, the only time in New Zealand history that two steam powered trains have operated in this manner.
In 1995, a South Island rail tour visited all the railway lines available to passenger charter as were possible. Included in the itinerary was haulage in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
by a small DH class
NZR DH class
The NZR DH class is a type of diesel-electric shunting locomotive in New Zealand. The class consists of six heavy shunt U10B type loco built by General Electric in the US in 1978...
heavy shunting engine
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
between Auckland and Hamilton, EF class
NZR EF class
The NZR EF class is a class of 22 25 kV AC electric locomotives that operate on the North Island Main Trunk between Palmerston North and Te Rapa in New Zealand...
between Hamilton and Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, and preserved DA 1471 between Palmerston North and Wellington southbound. In the South Island preserved DE
NZR DE class
The NZR DE class is a New Zealand class of shunting diesel-electric locomotives. The New Zealand Railways intended to replace steam locomotives for shunting duties with this class...
508 pulled the train down the Main North Line from Picton
Picton, New Zealand
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001...
to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and a member of the DJ class
NZR DJ class
The NZR DJ class locomotive is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in New Zealand. The class were purchased from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with a modernisation loan from the World Bank to replace steam locomotives in the South Island, where most of the class members worked most of their...
was employed on the rest of the South Island itinerary. The operation of the train to Hokitika empty for photos, down the Bluff Branch
Bluff Branch
The Bluff Branch is a railway line in Southland, New Zealand that links Invercargill with the port of Bluff. One of the first railways in New Zealand, it opened in 1867 and is still operating...
to the Bluff
Bluff, New Zealand
Bluff is a town and seaport in the Southland region, on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the southern-most town in New Zealand and, despite Slope Point being further to the south, is colloquially used to refer to the southern extremity of the country...
Harbour Island and along the Lyttelton Line to Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
Port were rare and unusual. So too was the final segment of the run from Hamilton to Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
, where C No. 47 (on a return day excursion between Auckland and Hamilton) double-headed the train with DA 1471 that had returned the tour from Wellington to Auckland via the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
and Taranaki. The tour did not only cater to rail enthusiasts, but featured visits to sightseeing attractions at every stop along the way (including a non-rail side trip to Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
).
In 1998, with C 847 returning to its home base in the Hutt Valley, and JA 1250 not quite ready to re-enter service, the Society entered an agreement with Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki Railway Station, Paekakariki at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Unlike...
to hire J 1234. This engine pulled a number of excursions around the upper North Island until JA 1250 returned to network service in 1999. J 1234 has also been used on Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
services, particularly on the popular Thomas Weekends
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
where it carries the title "Wally the Wellington Engine".
Also in 1998, the Society hired two members of the DA class from Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated
Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki Railway Station, Paekakariki at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Unlike...
, DA 1410 and DA 1431, for excursion service. These have been used on a large number of excursions to destinations including Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, Helensville
Helensville, New Zealand
Helensville is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is sited 40 kilometres northwest of Auckland, close to the southern extremity of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Waimauku 16 km to the south, and Kaukapakapa about 12 km to the...
and Kaipara Flats
Kaipara Flats
Kaipara Flats is a locality in the Rodney District of New Zealand. Warkworth is 12 km to the east, Ahuroa to the south, and Tauhoa to the north-west. The North Auckland railway line passes through the area....
.
Current excursions and tours
In recent years the Society has continued to increase its membership and trips and tours profile. Two particular excursions are widely popular and book out weeks in advance every year. Waves & Wheels takes passengers from Auckland to the Bay of IslandsBay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
and return completing various sectors of travel by rail, coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
and Fullers Ferries
Fullers Ferries
Fullers Group is a ferry and tourism company in Auckland, New Zealand. It operates in the Hauraki Gulf and in 2007, transported 4.2 million passengers.- Services :Fullers run ferries from the Auckland Ferry Terminal in Quay Street, Downtown Auckland...
catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
. Seatrain offers a similar experience, operating between Auckland and Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is a town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, located on a peninsula to the north of Tauranga. It was independent from Tauranga until the completion of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge in 1988....
.
Other regular trips have included the "Snowball Express" from Auckland to Ohakune
Ohakune
Ohakune is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Tongariro National Park, close to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu. Part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region, the town is 70 kilometres northeast of Wanganui, and 25 kilometres west...
and Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park...
by Silver Fern railcar, "Rally Spectators Special" from Auckland to Northland for exclusive viewing of the Rally of New Zealand, "Fieldays by Fern" to the National Agricultural Fieldays
National Agricultural Fieldays
The National Agricultural Fieldays is an annual national agricultural show and Field day event held in Hamilton, New Zealand. It styles itself as "the biggest agricultural trade show in the southern hemisphere"....
by Silver Fern railcar, and various extended tours giving thorough coverage of both the North and South Islands.
The Whangamomona Republic Day
Whangamomona
Whangamomona is a small township in the Stratford District and Manawatu-Wanganui Region in New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the Lost World Highway north-east of Stratford and south-west of Ohura. By rail it is from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.- History :The first...
trains are popular, with trains from Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North carrying thousands of passengers to the festivities. The fifteen carriage train operated for the 2005 event was featured in Marcus Lush
Marcus Lush
Marcus Lush is a television and radio presenter in New Zealand.He made his first forays into television in the 1990s as a reporter co-presenting TV2's Newsnight alongside Simon Dallow and Alison Mau, but it was a 2003 episode of travel show, Intrepid Journeys, that set him on a new broadcasting path...
's "Off the Rails" television series.
The Society has also operated short one hour rides around the circuit formed by Auckland's Auckland - Newmarket Line, North Island Main Trunk Railway and North Auckland Line, usually pulled by JA 1250.
Overseas Tours are open to Society member's only and have included recent visits to Canada and the orthern states of the USA, recent visits to almost all the states in Australia and the most recent visit to Great Britain.
Shorter trips have also been operated purely for members to enjoy such as various launch and bus trips in the Auckland local area and a number of cruises on the steam tug William C Daldy
William C Daldy
The William C Daldy is a historic steam engine tugboat operating on the Waitemata Harbour, in Auckland, New Zealand. Named after William Crush Daldy, an Auckland politician, she was built in 1935 and is still kept up as an active vessel by an enthusiast preservation society which charters her out...
– the most memorable so far being a morning greet cruise and an evening farewell cruise when Queen Mary 2 visited Auckland for the first time on Saturday 17 February 2007. Regular visits to Watercare Services Rainforest Express train in the Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges
The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...
have also been a very regular outing for our members.
Club Meeting Nights & Social Events
A number of social events are also held for members of the Society throughout the year. On the second Wednesday of each month (except January), members meet at the Auckland College of EducationAuckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
for an interesting and informative presentation and discussion on historic items and more contemporary topics that affect the rail industry in New Zealand and abroad. Topics also frequently cover highlights of society events, both past and present and offer members to 'catch up' with one another during the social supper at the conclusion of the program.
Occasionally events are held for members at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. "Railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
's Days" are member-only days where trains re-creating the past are assembled and operated for those who want to ride and photograph them. Often items in the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
fleet that aren't seen on public operating days are brought out and operated for the benefit of Society members. These items include members of the classi diesel fleet, the steam crane
Steam crane
A steam crane is a crane powered by a steam engine. It may be fixed or mobile and, if mobile, it may run on rail tracks, caterpillar tracks, road wheels, or be mounted on a barge...
and freight wagons.
An annual tradition has been the "Midnight Whistle", an evening function on 31 December of each year where members enjoy an evening meal and rare dusk and night time steam train rides. The site when everybody disembarks in a lineside field and the train reverses, prior to roaring past is memorable in itself. A lengthy blast on the whistle echoes aroung the local farms to signal in the New Year.
The Society's Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
is usually held in September and covers reports on activities of the society, annual election of all officers and committee members (incumbents, by constitution, must stand down at the beginning of the meeting) and discussions on future activities. The meeting is followed up with a sumptuous meal and some form of entertainment to end the evening.
Museum & Registered Office
The Society's registered Office is located at 38 Alfred Street, Onehunga, Auckland. Open Monday – Saturday, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, it is completely staffed by volunteer members of the Society.The office, not only takes excursion bookings, sells publications and answers all phone calls in relation to society and Glenbrook Vintage Railway activities, but also is the location where the Society's elected committee meets and Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trusboard and Branch meetings are held. It is thus, a very important piece of infrastructure for both entities.
The building was built in 1873 and was originally sited on the corner of Princess St and Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, beside the Onehunga Branch. The tight curve at this point on the line, resulted in the station platform having an irregular triangle shape. In 1964, the building was put up for sale and the society purchased it and moved it to the block of land it presently occupies – land designated for the future Avondale - Southdown Line
Avondale - Southdown Line
The Avondale–Southdown Line is a proposed railway line between Avondale and Southdown in Auckland, New Zealand. One of its main functions would be to remove north–south freight trains from the section of the Auckland rail system that has most passenger traffic...
. It is believed to be the oldest railway station building in the country. An F class locomotive, F 233, was displayed at the Office site until 1984, when it was moved to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for eventual restoration.
The building has also been used for a number of social events such as the Society's 30th and 40th birthday party (with accompanied rail excursion from Auckland City on both occasions), fundraising meals (in the lead up to Glenbrook Vintage Railway's opening) and smaller members meetings and overseas tour information meetings.
The Railway Enthusiasts Society operates a museum out of the old Onehunga Railway Station, which includes a selection of railway photos, memorabilia and railway artefacts. The museum also houses the collectible New Zealand Railways cups, which can fetch over $100 each.
Also included in the collection are also a huge number of magazines the Society receives on its members' behalf, operating electric tablet machines, locomotive and carriage brass number plates, three locomotive headlines (BB
NZR Bb class
The BB class of steam locomotives comprised 30 engines operated by New Zealand Railways in the North Island of New Zealand. Similar in design and appearance to the preceding B and BA classes, the first BB class locomotive entered service in February 1915, with the last to commence operations doing...
, JA and K. One of the more distinctive items, not actually on display but still in operating capacity is the 19th century light bulb which illuminates the now unisex (was females) lavatory room.
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a project of the Railway Enthusiasts Society, managed by a separate Charitable Trust on behalf of the Society.The members of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway Trust board are appointed by the Railway Enthusiasts Society committee, or in the case of the Member's Trustee, elected the Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
of the Railway Enthusiasts Society.
Whilst the two organisations are separate entities, the majority of those who assist the Glenbrook Vintage Railway are members of the Railway Enthusiasts Society and take an active role in the Society's activities on top of assisting the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
External links
- Railway Enthusiasts Society
- Youtube Video: The Society's "Cape Rodney Excursion" (OtahuhuOtahuhuOtahuhu is a suburb of Auckland. It is located to the southeast of the city centre, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tamaki River estuary to the east...
/ AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to WellsfordWellsfordWellsford is a town in the northern North Island of New Zealand. The town is the northernmost major settlement in the Auckland Region, and is 114 kilometres northwest of Auckland City.....
and return) passing the new MeadowbankMeadowbank, New ZealandMeadowbank is a suburb of Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand.Meadowbank is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council...
Station. - Youtube Video: The Society's Popular "Seatrain Excursion" east of HamiltonHamilton, New ZealandHamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
(steam hauled with Ja1250 "Diana") - Youtube Video: Another view of 2005's "Seatrain Excursion" near DruryDrury, New ZealandDrury is a rural town near Auckland, in northern New Zealand. Located 36 kilometres to the south of Auckland CBD, under authority of the Auckland Council. Drury lies at the southern border of the Auckland metropolitan area, 12 kilometres to the northeast of Pukekohe, close to the Papakura Channel,...
in South AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. - Youtube Video: The Society's 2006 "Seatrain Excursion" climbing from PokenoPokenoPokeno is a small town in New Zealand, located 50 kilometres southeast of Auckland. State Highway 1 originally ran through the town, but the upgrading of the highway in 1992 to expressway standards mean that the town has been bypassed....
to TuakauTuakauTuakau is a town in the Franklin district, and is part of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand.The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook....
(diesel hauled). - Youtube Video: The Society's "Waves & Wheels" Excursion crosses a stream between KaukapakapaKaukapakapaKaukapakapa is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated in the Rodney district and is around 50 kilometres northwest of Auckland. State Highway 16 passes through the town, connecting it to Helensville about 12 km to the south-west, and Araparera about 14 km to the north....
and Helensville. - Youtube Video: The Society's "Waves & Wheels" Excursion entering AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
's Western Suburbs at night – passing the redeveloped Ranui station.