Enthusiast keeps rail heritage on track

Taumarunui’s railway heritage is being kept alive by model enthusiast Wayne Tantau who has started restoration work on the model railways in the Kiwi Rail building on Hakiaha St.

Many people are not aware that as well as the model of the Raurimu Spiral in the Taumarunui i-SITE there is a much larger model railway over 21 metres long in the same building that was built by the now inactive Taumarunui Model Railway Club more than 20 years ago.

Tantau has just spent the last two weeks getting the Raurimu Spiral model working again and is also keen to fully restore the larger railway model if he can get support and help from like-minded enthusiasts to do so.

‘‘You can’t talk about Taumarunui and its history without talking about the railway and the impact it has had on the township and in New Zealand’s development,’’ he said.

‘‘Mention Taumarunui to just about anyone born in New Zealand over a certain age they are just as likely to start singing you Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line.’’

‘‘While I was working on the Raurimu Spiral model over the last couple of weeks I lost count of the number of people who were interested in the model and what it represented.’’

Tantau said he was looking for people who would be keen to help him establish a King Country Model Railway Club and to work on both the Raurimu Spiral and the larger model railway.

The Raurimu Spiral model was now running well and only needed a bit of work to refresh the scenery. The larger model needed a lot of scenery work before it was completed. ‘‘Anyone interested can contact me via my email waynetantau@ gmail.com

Tantau said he had the full support of the Ruapehu District Council which operates the i-SITE and was keen to see both models fully restored and running for people to enjoy, Tantau said.

‘‘I have put in a submission to the council to move both models into the old library on Hakiaha St in response to the request for expressions of interest for uses for the building.

‘‘The Council is in the process about making decisions about the future use of the old library building and whether or not to possibly relocate the i-SITE into it. Either way the models need a permanent home where they can be worked on and the public can have access to them and enjoy them.’’

i-SITE manager Kim Treen said the model railways could prove to be a fantastic attraction for Taumarunui and getting people into the i-SITE.

‘‘Without doubt there is a lot of interest in railways and Taumarunui’s railway heritage in particular.

‘‘The connection in people’s minds between Taumarunui and railways is already well established and the models provide a good way to leverage off this.’’

Treen said the council also wanted to thank the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre Trust for its efforts in working on the Raurimu Spiral model.

On March 11 the Ruapehu District Council opens its Long Term Plan 2015-25 for public submissions and the future use of the old Hakiaha St library building is one of the issues where it is seeking public thoughts and feedback.

Enthusiast Wayne Tantau wants to hear from fellow model train fans who would like to help him establish a King Country Model Railway Club and help restore one of the model railways.