- and a whole lot more to come
FROM PAGE 14
development, and now, 150 years later, the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust is commemorating our line’s 150 years of history, from Friday to Sunday this week with a Celebration of Steam. Unfortunately, our iconic steam engine Gabriel is still waiting for a new boiler to be constructed, but our friends at the Whanga¯rei Steam and Model Railway Club have kindly lent us their splendid little wood-fired steam loco Seymour.
And thanks to the expertise and knowledge of Mike Bradshaw and his team of volunteers the trust has constructed a replica of that very first carriage. All our carriages are named after birds, and this one is Moa — a species long extinct.
From Friday to Sunday the railway will run its normal four trips each day to Taumarere and return, but will be fitting in two shorter trips, with Seymour pulling Moa (which can still take only 12 passengers). If you can’t get a seat, there will be great historic photo opportunities.
And the large carriage shed will be open for visitors who wish to be shown around the workshop and see some of the restoration work still to be undertaken. There is a massive amount of excitement still to come. In partnership with Far North District Council and the Pou Herenga Tai Coast to Coast Cycleway, the trust is in the final stages of an application to the Provincial Growth Fund for what can only be described as one of the most significant developments for the Mid North in a very long time.
The project includes two steam engines, two more carriages, and significant building development at the Kawakawa railway station; a large, multipurpose railway and cycleway terminus at the area known locally as the Colenso Triangle, at Opua, including railway and cycle shops, a large cafe´, showers and toilets, electric car charging facilities, a turntable and water tower, restored wetlands, car, bus and motorhome parking.
The project’s third component is the restoration of the historic railway line between Taumarere and Opua, together with a cycleway within the railway corridor.
The plan is to build on cruise ship numbers and growing tourism in Northland to provide strong operational links involving the railway, cycleway, the Opua marina, Hundertwasser Park, the steam ship Minerva (which is being restored in Kerikeri), the Kawiti Caves and other attractions linking right across to the Hokianga.
It will be an exciting, family-friendly experience.
The business case has been peerreviewed and enthusiastically endorsed. When fully operational the project will provide up to 25 jobs, and will be a catalyst for other developments. In terms of tourism and employment it will be a great economic boost for the region.
The trust is eager to recruit new volunteers at this stage, many of whom may go on to permanent employment when the project comes to fruition. And as a charitable entity the trust has committed to return profits back to the community in ways such as vocational and educational scholarships.
So we can think back to 1864, with the discovery of coal and the wooden tramway with its horses, and particularly the first passengers who built on that start in 1868. Now, 150 years later, you are welcome to celebrate that event as we look back at significant developments in our history.
Even more importantly we invite the whole community to support us as we build on our history and look forward to another great economic, cultural and historic step for the Mid North.
Plans aplenty