Army train gift to MTRO

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 447, 4 August 1992, Page 7

Army train gift to MTRO

Ohakune's rail enthusiasts had another boost last week with the arrival of a shunting locomotive, courtesy of the Army. Soldiers from the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, from Waiouru Workshops, delivered the engine last Wednesday. TR 105 was a shunting locomotive used at Waiouru for work on the Army's siding. It was built in the 1960's at Thames by A.G.Price and was used at Waiouru until the mid 1970s. The same type of locomotive was used during the last year of operation on the Raetihi-Ohakune line which closed in 1967. Main Trunk Rail Ohakune plans to set up a static display with the loco, which has no motor, in front of the station and signal box, in Thames Street. TR105 will be set up on a length of track with three NC flat top waggons. The plan is to load the wagons with logs. The group has also been promised a working TR locomotive, by Winstones Pulp International. Once the Junction turntable is up and

running and the locomotive storage shed re-sited (from Waiouru), the working TR will be used to shunt carriages and steam trains used for excursions from Ohakune. Delivery of TR105 was carried out by Waiouru Workshops staff Lance Corporal Brenchley (in charge), corporal Vant Wout, Lance Corporal Robinson and Craftsman Young. Ironically, the soldiers were using equipment that is of similar vintage to the engine. The two army cranes used were M816 Medium Recovery Units, which have been in use at Waiouru for over 20 years and, prior to that, were used by the Americans in Korea.