Newspaper Article 2001 – Full steam ahead

Full steam ahead

The Mainline Steam Trust, Wellington, brought the retired and restored 1917 Ab class locomotive J1211 to Hawke’s Bay for a trip to Waikoau through the Esk Valley on Saturday on a day trip to Gisborne yesterday.

The journey to Waikoau came complete with a wedding as the engine known as Gloria chugged up the valley while Faye Sewter and Colin Engman exchanged wedding vows in the back carriage.

Hawke’s Bay Today photographer DUNCAN BROWN went along with a train-load of families, wedding guests and overseas tourists on a fine and windy Hawke’s Bay day.

Photo captions –

FAYE SEWTER and Colin Engman had a mad three-week rush to get ready after they decided to get married on the steam train on Saturday. The pair became engaged in September with no definite wedding plans, but when Faye saw the train trip advertised, she decided that would do nicely.

STEAM train driver Kevin Tasker, of Taradale, Napier, is the last serving train driver with a steam ticket in New Zealand. He was fireman on this engine when it was taken out of service in 1967 and has worked on the railway since 1960.

BINNEY MATTHEWS, 4, used the return trip, from Waikoau to take a nap.

SYDNEYSIDERS Harriet McNeill and her brother, Alexander, had a special treat – a ride in the cab.