Tiny train chuffed to mark milestone

A tiny train in Picton turns 50-years-old this weekend, and volunteers are chuffed.

The miniature railway and train has been entertaining families and visitors since it opened on Labour Day in 1968.

Back then, rides cost the hefty sum of 10 cents per adult and 5 cents per child.

Now, thanks to inflation, a ride costs a whopping 20 cents.

The Picton Society of Model Engineers looks after the tiny train and the boating pond it surrounds on the Picton foreshore.

Club volunteer Graham Lowe says the train was built through voluntary labour, with scrap metal shipped from Auckland.

The 50th birthday celebrations on Saturday would kickstart another busy summer season for the service.

‘‘We’ve made an effort to not raise our prices too much,’’ says Low, who has been helping out on the train since 2004.

But there is more to running the railroad than just riding the rails, he says.

‘‘There’s a lot of maintenance, cleaning of the pool and we are always looking for ways to raise funds for the community.’’

Low says more than $24,000 has been given to the community in the past decade from the funds raised at the railway and mini sail pond.

And they have managed to resurface the pool, replace the rails and renew their flotilla of tiny yachts.

Low says finding volunteers to work the rail is always a challenge though.

‘‘The contribution from our volunteers has been huge. We are always on the lookout for volunteers who are keen to come

‘‘There’s a lot of maintenance, cleaning of the pool and we are always looking for ways to raise funds for the community.’’

and help with the rail.

‘‘The people that work here now are just great. They are here everyday without any fuss.’’

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett is expected to attend the birthday bash on Saturday to say a few words about the contribution the train has made to the community, after which he will take a ride on the tiny locomotive.

The society will be taking donations this weekend for the ongoing contributions it makes to the community.

THE DETAILS

Picton Society of Model Engineers’ 50th birthday celebrations take place on Saturday, October 21. The station opens 10am

DAVID JAMES/STUFF Graham Lowe, Picton Society of Model Engineers volunteer Graham Low, Kerry Johnson, and Brian Henstock would like more volunteers to join the Picton Society of Model Engineers.