Hard work gets railway ready to ride

BY RICHARD EDMONDSON

A bush railway at Kaikohe’s Pioneer Village could soon be back in service for the first time in 12 years.

Heritage Kaikohe has finished restoring rail tracks and rolling stock at the open-air museum and hopes to reopen the popular railway before the end of the month.

New curator Ian Day says a trial run of the railway at his po-
whiri last month went without any major hitches.

"It works fine. We’ve ironed a few minor problems out."

He expects rail authorities to certify the railway as safe for operation in a couple of weeks.

"We’re just waiting for the paperwork to be finalised."

Mr Day says a shortage of qualified engineers means the railway will initially only run on live days at the village or when pre-booked tour parties visit.

But Heritage Kaikohe hopes to eventually be able to offer regular services for locals.

"It was a much-loved feature of the village in years gone by. People say ‘I remember riding it as a kid’."

Getting the railway up and
running again has been a com-munity effort, says Mr Day.

He thanks Kaikohe Lions club members who kick-started the restoration project, replacing sleepers and repairing the passenger carriage.

Work and Income clients completed the work under the department’s Community Max scheme and the direction of Todd Price.

Corrections Department clients also helped, contributing labour as part of community service sentences.

"We would never have got there without their help," says Mr Day.

 

The railway's Scottish-built, diesel-powered, locomotive Kaimai is believed to be one of only three Planet locomotives in New Zealand.

Kaimai was used to transport salt at salt works in the South Island before serving as a slurry transporter during the construction of the Kaimai rail tunnel.

 

- © Fairfax NZ News