Vintage train visits

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 406, 1 October 1991, Page 6

Vintage train visits

BY

DENNIS

BEYTAGH

No fewer than three vintage train excursions have already been planned to pass through Ohakune over the next five months and these will increase as Ohakune develops its watering and turn-round facilities as well as its railway village and museum concept.

On Sunday 12 October the Glenfield Vintage Railway is sending a train from Auckland to Ohakune. However, because Ohakune hasn't yet got an operating turntable, the steam locomotive (Ka 942) will only travel as far as National Park. There it will disengage from the passenger carriages so that

it can return to Taumarunui to turn round while the carriages are hauled to Ohakune by a double-ender Class 30 electric locomotive. At Ohakune the electric locomotive will use the loop line to reposition itself at the front of the vintage carriages and haul them back to National Park

where they will be reconnected to Ka 942. On Saturday 9 November Steam Incorporated of Paekakariki in conjunction with the Wanganui Chronicle will be running a 400 passenger "Round the Mountain Railranger" train excursion which

will make a 'whistlestop' in Ohakune during the afternoon. In February next year Steam Incorporated, in conjunction with the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand will be running a special train to Horopito to coincide with the 2nd BP Pan Pacific Rally.