Newspaper Article 1993 – Steaming back in time up the coast

Steaming back in time up the coast

A steam engine which regularly piled the beat between Wellington and Gisborne in the 1950s was the locomotive for an enthusiasts’ trip through the grandeur of the West Coast landscape over Labour Weekend.

More than 300 people paid $84 a head for the journey from Napier to Gisborne and back. Among them were passengers, including California and German tourists who had joined the train at Wellington. They travelled through countryside not reached by road. The route is now used only by goods trains.

It took passengers through the Esk Valley vineyards to Waikoau, passing through eight tunnels and five viaducts, including the highest in New Zealand, the Mohaka. From Wairoa, the line runs along the coast, climbing the 1:50 grade Beach Loop where there are views of the entire East Coast.

Photo captions –

A plane gives way to the train as it crosses the airport runway on its way into Gisborne.

The engine J1234 was manned by a roster of volunteers. Among them as fireman was Mr J. Hawkins, Napier. The engine had been restored by members of Steam Incorporation headquarters in Paekakariki.

Two types[?] of transport, the train and a trawler at Waikokopu.

The DA-class locomotive climbs the Whareratas on the Nuhaka side. The train’s four-day trek covered more than 1000 kilometres of line. The pictures were taken by David Ferguson, Napier.

Another Napier enthusiast was engine driver Barry Sinclair, a full time employee of NZ Rail, who took the opportunity of the weekend excursion to take a step back in time.

Recently retired Wairoa doctor Calvert Tait and his wife Joyce travelled to Napier to join the train. For them it was a leisurely journey into nostalgia. The train never exceeded 50km/h.

A fire engine bearing the livery of the Hasting District Council was waiting at Putorino to refill its tanks with water for the next clouds of steam.