Newspaper Article 1994 – Summer steam train returns to the Bay

Bay Attractions

Summer steam train returns to the Bay

A 147-tonne oil-fired locomotive, ‘Ka’942, which was utilised on several steam train excursions last summer in Hawke’s Bay, will again return to Napier in mid-January as part of the “Sunsmart Summer Festival” holiday programme.

Excursions scheduled included a Hastings to Waikoau excursion up the Esk Valley as well as a return day excursion from Gisborne.

Sightseeing and Gardening tour options will also be available at Opoutama and Gisborne.

Steam locomotive ‘Ka’942 was built in 1940 at the Hutt Railway Workshops near Wellington.

This class of locomotive were originally coal-burner but were converted to burn oil after the Second World War when there was a shortage of coal with ‘Ka’942 being converted in late 1947.

Toward the end of steam era, in August 1967, ‘Ka’942 was retired to the Hutt Workshops pending further use as a workshops stationary boiler.

The locomotive was sold in 1973 to Wellington businessman Ian Welch and since restored to main line running order by the Mainline Steam Trust.

The Mainline Steam Trust has two heavy engineering workshops and depots at Parnell in Auckland and at Sockburn in Christchurch.

During 1989-90, ‘Ka’942 was fully rebuilt after an extensive overhaul returning to mainline excursion service in July 1990.

Three months ago the locomotive was refitted with steamline cowling of art-deco era as locomotives were during late 1930-40s.

Any profits made from these excursion trains contributes towards cost of maintaining these locomotives as well as going towards another eight steam locomotives awaiting restoration.

An 86-tonne ‘Ab’ class and 108-tonne ‘Jb’ class locomotives are expected to re-enter service in late 1995 to join ‘KA’942 based in the North Island and ‘J’1211 now based in the South Island at Christchurch.

A 30-tonne ‘Bagnall’ tank locomotive ex Tomoana Freezing Works at Hastings has also recently been restored by the Trust and is occasionally used for promotions at the Parnell Depot.

[Rest of article missing]

Photo caption – The 54-year-old ‘Ka’942 steam locomotive which will be in Napier on January 17 as part of the Sunsmart Summer Fstival [Festival].

[Advertisement]
STEAM TRAIN EXCURSIONS
Mainline Steam Trust presents —
“ESK VALLEY EXPLORER BARBECUE EXCURSION”
HASTINGS — NAPIER — ESK VALLEY — WAIKOAU RETURN
Saturday afternoon, January 21, 1995
“SCENIC SUNRISE COAST STEAM EXPRESS”
NAPIER — GISBORNE RETURN — ‘DAY EXCURSION’
Sunday, January 22, 1995
EXCURSION FARES:
Hastings-Esk Valley/Waikoau
(2 hours Eskdale Domain)
Adult $42.50 — Child $29.50 — Family $115
Napier-Esk Valley/Waikoau
Adult $35 — Child $23.50   Family $99.50
Gisborne Excursion (2 hours at Gisborne)
Adult $89.50 — Child $65   Family $295
To Opoutama only:
Adult $65 — Child $48.50   Family $215
(Family ticket — defined 2 adults with 2-3 children school  age)
Barbecue available Eskdale
Sightseeing tours/lunch options available at Opoutama and Gisborne
CLASSIC HITS
89FM
Bay City Radio
SUNSMART
Summer
FESTIVAL
options available at
‘942’
Excursion inquiries — telephone (06) 8436700 Napier
Steam train tickets available now from –
NAPIER & HASTINGS VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES
(Marine Parade, Napier, and Russell Street North, Hastings)
Excursion brochures with full details available now