Visiting steam train known locally

Ruapehu Bulletin, 26 March 1991, Page 6

Visiting steam train known locally

Ka945, which is due to arrive in Ohakune at 7pm on Good Friday, was the prototype Ka steam locomotive built by the NZ Railways' Hutt workshop in July 1933. It first appeared with the new streamlined shroud to cover the feedwater heater and it was sent to Taumarunui where it was to be based for its entire working

life though it did occasionally worked beyond its allocated borders of Taihape in the South and Frankton in the north. While in service it hauled rnost types of trains both passenger and freight, In November 1947 Ka945 was converted to an oil; burner and had its streamlined shroud removed. In July 1961 it was involved in an accident while hauling the Auckland to Wellington Night 'Limited', south of Waiouru when it hit a slip across the line. It was de-railed,m 1 1 thrown onto its side and rolled down a bank with fortunately - no loss of life. In February 1965 Ka945 acted as a 'banking engine' (the second of two locomotive hauling a heavy train through the steeper gradients of the Central North Island) on the very last stem-hauled Auckland to Wellington Express between Taumarunui and National Park. Two years later, in August 1967, Ka945

also hauled the very last steam hauled freight train (Goods train no 478) between Taihape and Taumarunui. A month later, in September 1967, Ka945 hauled a train full of enthusiasts on a special 'steam' outing up the Raurimu Spiral between Taumaurunui and National Park. During its 28-year working life on the Main Trunk Line with NZ Railways, it spent a lot of time in the Ohakune area. It travelled a total distance of 927,800 miles (1,493,1 lOkms) and underwent no fewer than seven complete overhauls at the Hutt Railway Workshops during that time. After being withdrawn from service in 1967 it was 'retired' to a back shunt lime at Taumarunui and remained there until Mr Len Sutherland purchased it in 1968. In June 12975 it was towed to Paekakariki and stored in the engine sheds by Steam Incorporated, where minor restoration work

was carried out. Early in 1981 ownei Len Sutherland generously donated the locomotive to Steam Incorporated to complete restoration. Then in September 1984 work was received

that Ka945 had been chosen to haul the first steam-train excursion on the Main Trunk Line in ten years. That memorable trip took place seven months later, in April 1985.

A trip behind a Ka locomotive was to roar through the countryside sometimes in the till of the night on the 'Express' with trails of steam casing shadows an4 scudding past carriage windows.