Newspaper Article 1997 – Full steam into the past

Full steam into the past

Three hundred and eighty passengers travelled from Napier to Gisborne last weekend, courtesy of the Mainline Steam Trust and “Gloria”, steam locomotive J1211. The 108 tonne locomotive was built in 1939 by the North British Company in Glasgow, Scotland. It was originally a coal burner, but was converted in late 1995 to burn oil. J1211 was withdrawn from New Zealand Rail service in November 1971. It was saved from the scrap heap and restored.

Reporter Kate Rivett and photographer Liz Brooker were aboard for the journey.

The Sunrise Coast Scenic Steam Express excursion steamed away from Napier in the early hours of last Saturday.

After initial pick-up stops at Westshore and Bay View, the train headed up the picturesque Esk Valley.

The first picture stop was at the Esk Valley rail bridge, near Ellis Wallace Rd. Everyone clambered off the train and gathered along the track verge. The train reversed back over the bridge, around the corner and out of sight. Then, with a hoot, it came steaming around the corner and over the bridge with its light blazing, the perfect photo opportunity.

At the end of the Esk Valley, the train gradually climbed up and away from the Esk River towards Waikoau.

There was another photo opportunity at the Holt Forest Trust scenic walk, a bit of civilisation amidst paddock after paddock of newly planted pine trees.

A short time later, there was a glimpse of Lake Tutira as the railway tracks came back into line with the main road, Highway 2.

The crossing of the Mohaka Viaduct, which is 278m long and 95m above the riverbed, was a great attraction with the passengers’ noses pressed against the windows trying to see as far down as they could.

AT NORTH CLYDE, on the outskirts of Wairoa, “Gloria” took on more water giving many of the residents the opportunity for a closer look. Holiday makers at a little bay between Nuhaka and Opoutama did the same.

Some important extra passengers joined the excursion for a photo opportunity at the Kopuawhara viaduct. TVNZ’s Cameron Bennett and his Sixty Minutes crew were filming a piece to go to air in late February/March.

Passengers in some of the carriages had a close encounter with some of the engine’s smoke in the Tikiwhata Tunnel, which is almost three kilometres long. Beach Loop, an expanse of railway line hugging the coastline with a spectacular view of the sea, gave a respite from the darkness of the tunnel. The next tunnel, the Waikoura, was 1.4km long.

THE MAINLINE Steam Trust, which operates the excursions, promises new carriages next year. Organiser Cran Julian said it has 15 new carriages on order from England.

“We’re hoping to have them refurbished in time for the Hawke’s Bay excursions. They’ll be air conditioned and will have new seating.

“These ones we have on loan (from Tranz Metro commuter service between Masterton and Wellington) are what I call toast rack carriages. Two seats on either side of the carriage all facing the front. The new carriages will have sets of four facing each other, with tables. That’ll make the day seem a little shorter.”

Heading into Gisborne, J1211 crossed the Waipoa [Waipaoa] River bridge, which was washed away during Cyclone Bola in March 1988. The extent of the damage caused by the cyclone meant the daily rail passenger service was stopped. A lengthened Waipoa rail bridge was reopened to rail traffic in September 1988, but the passenger service was never reinstated.

One of the unusual features of the Napier to Gisborne railway is the fact that it runs right across the middle of Gisborne Airport’s main runway, or rather, the runway was built across the railway. The control of the two modes of transport was done by the airport control tower. J1211 gave way to a light aircraft coming in to land.

Passengers had several choices to fill in their time during the two hour stop in Gisborne. Some met friends or relatives at the station, others spent the time lazing in the sun at the beach. For others, the Mainline Steam Trust had arranged a short sightseeing tour and a lunch at Wainui Beach, courtesy of the Gisborne Pakeke Lions Club.

Back on board the train, rain set in. In contrast to the heat of the trip northwards, the welcome rain cooled the air for the long trip home.

During the trip, some lucky passengers were being given rides up front in the locomotive.

The engine driver on the return journey was Jim Sinclair, who joined Railways in 1954 and drove his first engine in 1961.

“I started off as a fireman. I’m now retired and get called in to do these excursions or when railways is short of staff.

“I love it. I love the steam. This is a really good stretch of railway, the tunnels are good. I like bringing the old engines up here.”

Another person who loves the steam is J1211’s owner, Wellington businessman Ian Welch.

“I bought this one in 1971. It was going to go for scrap, but I bought it for $1500. I’ve spent a bit doing it up, restoring it. You couldn’t put a dollar figure on it now. It’s priceless.

“It depends on the season as to where it’s going and what it’s doing but it goes out about once a month. Between my two engines they’d do a trip on average once a month.”

He said he’s very passionate about his engines.

“It has been a hard road with a lot of hiccups. Some people told me I had rocks in my head when I bought the engine, but I had a lot of help from unexpected quarters.

“The areas I thought would be easy were hard and the hard bits were easy,” he said. “It took me between 1971 and 1988 to get the engine restored for the Mainline. My family and friends put a lot of effort into the restoration, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. The reward is that it’s great to see people having a good time.

There were people on the excursion from as far away as Auckland and Wellington. One family had even driven to Napier that morning from Rangitaiki so it was with some relief that “Gloria” and her passengers pulled back into Napier 16 hours after leaving.

Photo captions –

Engine driver Jim Sinclair...I love steam

Some of the excursionists take the opportunity of one of the many photo stops.