Main Trunk to celebrate 75th Anniversary

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 11, 16 August 1983, Page 6

Main Trunk to celebrate 75th Anniversary

November 1983 will see the 75th anniversary of the opening of the North Island Main Trunk Railway on 9 November 1908. To mark the occasion a weekend of special activities is planned for SaturdaySunday 5-6 November, including a re-enactment of 'driving the last spike' on Sunday 6 November, near Pokaka. A reunion to be held at Ohakune of railwaymen and women of all branches who have "worked the Trunk" is also planned for the same weekend. The reunion activities will include a social hour, dinner and entertainment on Saturday, followed by a Sunday morning visit to the spike-driving ceremony. Accommodation at Ohakune is limited, and anyone interested in participating in the reunion activities or who wants further information should contact

Stuart Van de Wiel who is the Waimarino area organiser for the Main Trunk Reunion at the Ohakune Railway Station, telephone 426 Ohakune or at home 615 Ohakune. It is important not to forget retired railwaymen and women who may be interested in attending. If anyone knows of someone who has 'worked the Main Trunk' and may wish to attend, they are asked to tell them about this reunion. As well as the reunion, and the re-enactment ceremony, Steam Incorporated at Wellington and the Railway Enthusiasts Society at Auckland are running special excursion trains from Wellington and Auckland to coincide with the ceremony. Bookings for the spec« excursion train and furth^ information can be obtained from Stuart Van de Wiel.