Steam visit

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 434, 28 April 1992, Page 5

Steam visit

BY

DENNIS

BEYTAGH

Another vintage train excursion is being planned for the coming Queens Birthday Weekend and this time the destination is Ohakune itself. The train, hauled by two baek-to-back diesel locomotives and carrying up to 200 passengers is expected to arrive in Ohakune on Saturday 30 May and leave again on Monday 1 June. With less than five weeks to go plans are already being made by Main Trunk Rail Ohakune (MTRO) to welcome the weekend visitors who will spend two days in the Waimarino. Plans include sightseeing trips to the Turoa Skifields, Horopito Vintage Car Museum, the Raetihi Railway Museum and others yet to be arranged. On Sunday 31 May the two DA locomotives will travel through to Taumarunui before returning to Ohakune and this will provide an opportunity not only for the visitors to rejoin the train but also a chance for locals to embark and enjoy a vintage diesel train trip to National Park, the Raurimu Spiral and beyond. Another feature of the coming Queens Birthday

Weekend to look forward to says MTRO president Bob Norling is the opening of the refurbished Ohakune Railway Station cafe and refreshment rooms which should be "up and running by the time our visitors arrive." Mr Norling says that the MTRO membership drive has been quite successful to date but there's still plenty of time for more individuals, families and businesses to support this very worthwhile community project (see membership application