FRONZ 50th anniversary, a weekend well spent in NZ
Last year I received an email enquiring about a photo I'd taken in Palmerston North, New Zealand in June from the editor of The Linesider, Darryl Bond.
What is The Linesider you might ask?
Linesider magazine cover - a great shot of DA1410 by Ben Smith
Turns out, it an extremely high quality quarterly magazine, published by the National Railway Museum of NZ, celebrating New Zealand's Railways.
I added the extremely high quality bit, but when I got my hands on the Spring quarter edition, I was really impressed.
There's some amazing photography on display in there and very interesting articles about past and current goings on in the NZ railway scene.
To be fair, there was a lot of heritage activity going on in NZ in June, with the Federation of Rail Organisations NZ celebrating their 50th anniversary. New Zealand isn't a big country, but there's plenty of rail and tram activity, with around 60 groups represented by the organisation.
20 of the 64 pages are dedicated to these celebrations, which involved several preservation groups teaming up to run mainline excursions, as well as preserved lines seeing visiting locomotives. There's some fantastic photos, and I'm very happy to have one of mine in there too!
I'd half written a journal post, and parked it, until I saw the magazine and got reinspired- thanks Darryl!
So here we go -
A couple of mates and I went over for an extended weekend in New Zealand on 19/ 20/ 21/ 22 June, our focus being the 'Celebration Express' on Friday, and Saturday, the 'Main Trunk Steam Spectacular', both mainline tours operated by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, and Steam Incorporated.
Our plan was initially to fly in Thursday, stay in Wellington, and travel by suburban train to the originating station for the tours, Paekakariki. However it was the Matariki long weekend, and aside from our specials and some freight, there were no trains operating out of Wellington due to maintenance shutdowns.
Accommodation was booked at the second pickup town, Paraparaumu, the second last stop on the suburban network.
It was still going to be early starts, including Thursdays flights over which was a 5:00 alarm call.
Easy passage through an eerily empty Tullamarine airport had me in the lounge by 06:15, joined soon after by Clayton. We had breakfast before heading to the gate 7:30, push back at 08:04, 4 late.
After an uneventful flight, we touched down at Wellington 10 minutes early.
To get into the railway station where we were meeting Sean, we purchased Snapper cards, the local electronic tap on card, before joining the Airport express bus. Sean had come over the day before from Brisbane, and joined us at the station.
We decided to take a trip on the steep and windy suburban line out to Johnsonville. This was formerly part of the main trunk line out of Wellington, but was shortened and the line further north abandoned when an easier alignment and tunnel under the range was opened.
As the driver changes ends at Johnsonville, there was time for a quick photo, before rebording the train back into Wellington station.
On our return, a couple of beers at the bar at the station before catching a suburban service to Paraparaumu, and checked into our home for the next three nights. It doesn’t seem to be a feature in many places in Australia, but the railway bar, or restaurant, is popular in many other parts of the world.
We’d explored dinner options, and with Salt and Wood, a brewery/ smokehouse at the next station, Waikanae, terminus of the suburban network, caught the next train north, while the trains were still available.
After a substantial meal and accompanying beers, we caught the train back and turned in early in preparation for a couple of big days - after getting some photos of passing freights at the station first.
A passing freight at Paraparaumu. The station building was on borrowed time, actually being demolished the weekend we were visiting.
Friday was an 06:30 start for the 07:40 Departure to Palmerston North on the Anniversary Express.
The train was a handful of minutes late arriving from Paekakariki, Steam Inc.'s base, hauled by Glenbrook's DC 4818, Steam Inc.'s DA 1431, and steam locos Ab 608 and Ja 1271.
DC 4818 leads the Celebrations Express into Paraparaumu
All passengers seem to be compressed into the cars away from the engines, with loading increasing on subsequent stops.
It was a short walk back to the observation platform car, which had two viewing decks separated by an equipment room housing the generator for powering the cars.
Some nice curves on the line helped with some photos from the observation car.
It was chilly out, and I’d neglected to pack gloves so I didn’t stay out too long, picking up a coffee and hot chocolate on the way back.
We crossed a southbound goods at Shannon, being put in the loop to give it the main line run.
Arrival at Palmerston North gave us the opportunity to watch all the locos and cars being shuffled around before the grand parade. It was still chilly, so the steam hung around the locos, giving some nice photo opportunities.
Thumbs up from the Ja as the train was shunted out for the Grand Cavalcade.
Aside from the four we'd arrived with, Glenbrook's recently restored tank loco Ww 644, their diesel DBR 1254, Steam Inc.'s DA 1410, and the Pahiatua Railcar Society's RM 31 'Tokomaru' dating from 1938, quite the lineup!
Interestingly, the Ja was actually younger than the diesel DA 1410, being built in 1956 and 1955 respectively.
The rain was starting to add to the ‘atmospheric’ conditions as the Ja and Ab move around the platform.
The platform was crowded, and without a lot of cover, so as the clouds got heavier, we decided to head to get a feed before our afternoon trip to Feilding behind the Ww.
It ended up being a good call as the heavens opened up while we were enjoying lunch at the Emerson’s brew house.
Given the weather, we stayed a while, then caught an uber back in time for our ride.
The plan was to ride behind the Ww to Feilding, visit the Fielding and District Steam Railway Society (another preservation group busy restoring locos and rolling stock) while the train ran back to Palmerston Nth, then catch its return working back.
WW 644 has had a quick water break, and is running around the train ready for the return to Palmerston North.
More atmosphere! Wet ground, steam and shiny rails as the train sits at Feilding
Things were unfortunately running late by the time we arrived in Feilding after a great run behind the Ww, a bit over an hour and a half so we had plenty of time to get photos of the train departing, the rail motor also departing, and look around the workshops and loco shed before getting back to the station. It was getting chilly, and Sean wasn't feeling the best by the time we settled back into the train.
Once back at Palmerston North, the Ww was cut off and replaced by the diesels DC 4818 and DBR 1254 for the run south, our only concern was if there was going to be any food options when we arrived back at Paraparaumu.
Sean decided to give dinner a miss, and headed off for an early night.
The Black Stag tavern was still open, and while they don't do any food, they were happy for us to get takeaway, and bring it in. The only option was Indian, just across the street, the owner was very friendly and food delicious, enjoyed in the bar while watching the rugby and a live darts competition.
We didn't stay out too late, as we had a big day ahead of us. The Main Trunk Steam Spectacular on Saturday was one of the highlights of the celebrations, and the incentive for us to cross the ditch to get some main line steam.
A 05:30 alarm call wasn't welcome, but the promise of a great day's outing had us up and about without too much grumbling.
A walk to the station in the dark for the 06:42 departure saw us join a small crowd of people also waiting to join the train. A couple of minutes late, the train pulled into the platform, with the DC leading. To save time, we were being told to board at the nearest door, and walk through the cars to find our allocated seats.
Pre dawn arrival, the lights were on at Macca’s but I’m not sure if they were even open.
We were a fair way down the platform, but with car A where we were booked being the last car of 14 on the train, we still had a few to walk through.
As the sky became lighter, I ventured out to the observation deck, and immediately wished I'd packed my gloves - it was chilly!
Sunrise was getting closer, with some nice glow in the sky as we were getting into Levin. Between here and Shannon, the line twists and turns, giving some nice glint along the side of the train as the sun started to creep over the horizon.
Sunrise on the Main Trunk line between Levin and Shannon.
I took in the sights and sounds for a while, then retreated back to join the others, with a coffee stop at the cafe car on the way through.
Palmerston North was reached, and while the track work in the platform is set up to make it easy to cut off the diesels, and drop on the steam locos, there was a considerable amount of time spent shunting and getting things positioned.
I didn't note how late we departed, but think it was in the order of 30 to 40 minutes down, sufficient for an early call to be made to cancel the much anticipated photo stop at a sweeping horseshoe curve.
I was back out on the observation deck again, far more crowded than earlier, but still managed to stake a place on the handrail.
North of Feilding, the line gets into some interesting country, firstly climbing a sweeping curve up an escarpment, then crossing the Rangitike river several times on soaring bridges, reaching over 70 metres above the river below, it's an amazing piece of engineering. This was a new alignment constructed in the 1970s, and opened in 1981. The original line kept further west, twisting and turning through a series of tunnels, a couple of which can be seen from the present day alignment
Climbing the escarpment.
The long climb to Waiouru, with both locos working hard.
Taihape was a water stop for us, 120 or so km from Palmerston, before settling into a long uphill slog, climbing creek valleys and sweeping around numerous curves to gain altitude, passing through Waiouru, the highest station on the New Zealand rail network at 814m above sea level, Paraparamu at the start of our day being only at 14m.
It was in this section that the abandoned photo stop was to have taken place, a great sweeping horse shoe curve on a steep gradient, the photos I've seen from line side look great!
Exiting the horseshoe bend, I’m not sure how it would have worked out with a train load of enthusiasts and motorcaders trying to squeeze in together.
Six and a half hours after we joined the train, we arrived into our destination for the day, the ski town of Ohakune.
Ohakune station precinct, featuring the relocated signal box.
Missing the photo stop meant we had made up a chunk of time on the schedule, but we were still late, so our visit was cut back to one hour to give an on time departure at 14:10.
With the locos quickly cut off and out of sight before we got near the front of the train, under Sean's guidance, we headed to the Powderkeg
for some lunch and a couple of local beers. This Swiss chalet style building, timber lined was nice and warm with open fires, very welcome after the train trip.
Lunch service was busy, but we received our meals in good time, and were back at the train ready to go.
For the outbound journey, the Ab had lead the way, the Ja in charge for the trip back.
Seeing as we were now at the front of the train, we decided to grab a round of drinks on the way through - the bar service being located at the last car of the train.
With two doors at the end of each car, that was 52 doors to negotiate, quite the effort for a round of drinks!
Doubling up shouts, and filling pockets with six unopened stubbies was the most efficient method, they were hardly going to get too warm - having said that, we didn't make too many trips!
As on the way out, I spent quite a bit of time out on the observation deck, it wasn't as packed as in the morning, and thinned out as the daylight started to fade, and temperature dropped.
Making the most of the people on the deck for some interesting shots.
Winding through the countryside.
The shadows were certainly long by the time we recrossed the Rangitike viaducts, and it was dark before we reached Palmerston North.
One of the spectacular Rangitike river crossings.
Oiling around under torchlight at Palmerston North. This was the photo selected for inclusion in The Linesider.
Putting a shovelful of coal on the fire.
The locos received an oil and inspection while on the platform, then the DC and DBA were dropped on for the remainder of the run south.
Hopping off at Paraparaumu, there was time to walk forward of the train to get some shots of it departing, before heading off.
Streetlight and a slow moving train helped capture this one.
The end of our two days behind steam and heritage diesels, thanks FRONZ!
Indian was on the menu again, by virtue of the second option, the noodle bar closing just as we came around the corner, not that there was any complaints.
The pub was quieter tonight, and with the rugby match on the screens not being a favourable result, we were soon sitting there alone while the waitress packed up around us before vanishing entirely.
Back to our accomodation, I left Clayton to watch his Magpies play St Kilda, and went to bed.
Sunday morning was a bit of a sleep in, before catching the rail replacement bus back into Wellington. It was a pretty run down the coast before hitting the suburbs and turning inland.
Once in town, we decided to go for a ride on the Wellington Cable Car to fill in a bit of time before heading to the airport.
Car No.2 nears the top of the Wellington funicular
They aren't my favourite form of rail transport, dangling on a wire rope doesn't really appeal to me, although this one is fairly short, and we didn't have anyone wanting to join or leave at the intermediate stops, so it was express both ways.
Out at the airport in good time, formalities completed we headed to the lounge for lunch and refreshments before Clayton and I boarded our flight to Melbourne, leaving Sean to catch his to Brisbane a short while later.
It had been a great weekend of travel with friends, the FRONZ team had certainly put on a spectacular 50th celebration!
With so many rail heritage operations on both islands, there’s plenty of options for enthusiasts to choose from, and New Zealand is a spectacular country with amazing scenery and food, you can’t go wrong!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this one, the first post for 2026, I look forward to sharing more of my Railway Life with you this year.
Thanks,
Scott
