February steam train trip planned

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 453, 15 September 1992, Page 11

February steam train trip planned

Guest speaker at last week's meeting of the Main Trunk Rail Ohakune (MTRO) committee was Dave Mills, president of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers Association. Now residing in Hamilton, Dave (pictured) was a local boy who managed to fulfill a childhood dream by becoming an engine driver on the railway line beside which he grew up. Born in the then thriving railway township of Rangataua in 1940 he was to spend 35 years of his

to see a lot of his home town by day and night from the locomotive footplate as he passed to and fro on the North Island Main Trunk Line, first as a fireman then driver at the controls of both steam and diesel hauled trains. These included, in their time, the Silver Fern and Silver Star railcars. But his travels were not confined to the Main Trunk Line. In the North Island he took trains through to Hawkes Bay, North Auckland and Taranaki and at various times he

was based in Wellington, Taihape and Taumarunui. In the South Island he was based in Christchurch, Invercargill and on the West Coast during his service with New Zealand Railways. "It's been a great occupation and very enjoyable," he said, " and now I'm into rail preservation based in Hamilton". On a recent visit to his family in Rangataua he was delighted to see the work done by MTRO in the Ohakune railway yards and noted how much had been achieved in the relatively short time

(two and a half years) the local group has been in existence. He had made a video of the Junction railyards on an earlier visit and will continue to record progress in order to produce a commercial video to promote rail travel - particularly steam train excursions - in the North Island. Steam excursion He told last week's meeting that in recognition and support of MTRO's efforts, his Association, in conjunction with Ian Welch of Mainline Steam Trust, have organised a steam train excursion from Hamilton to Ohakune in February next year to celebrate the commissioning of the turntable which should be in place by then. The pit is prepared and delivery of the cradle is awaited. This inaugural Mainline Steam Trust excursion is planned for Saturday 28 February and will see between 500-600 visitors spending the day in the Waimarino with a number of different activity/sightseeing options being offered. They will arrive in a 10-12 carriage train hauled by steam locomotive Ka 942 at about 10.30am and leave again

to return to Hamilton at about 4pm. Between those hours MTRO is planning to run their second side trip from Ohakune, this time to Taihape and back. This train will be hauled by a steam locomotive rather than diesel. "This should make it even more popular," said MTRO president Bob Norling, "and will allow dramatic photo stops at Tangiwai, the Turangarere 'horseshoe' loop, the twin bridges between Waiouru and Hihitahi against a background of Mount Ruapehu and on the iron girder bridge in the Mataroa Valley." Future Main Steam Trust excursions - and Dave Mills is planning four a year - will involve overnight and long weekend stays but at this stage, the inaugural trip next February will be a day-trip only. This is because there is as yet, no locomotive shed to provide ovemight security in Ohakune but MTRO are currently working on this and it may be possible within the next five months to acquire an ex-railway shed to house Ka 942.