By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE
Rotorua's Toot'n Whistle miniature train ride has been shunted into storage for want of a new home.
The railway, a fixture in Kuirau Park for 44 years, has run out of steam because the park has become a real hot spot.
Toot'n Whistle owner Trevor Coleman said he had been forced out by the geothermal instability of the land, which had become increasingly evident over the two years he had been operating the 1/6th scale model of a British Atlantic 1905 engine and its three carriages.
The ground near the 276m rail track had become more spongy and deep holes had appeared.
"We poured truckloads of rocks in, but we were losing the battle," Mr Coleman said. "After we put up signs warning people it was dangerous custom fell away, which cost us a lot of money so we had to close."
Efforts to relocate on the Rotorua lakefront led to a drawn-out debate with the district council. Mr Coleman was eventually refused the lakefront site on a seven to six vote and was offered another spot in Kuirau Park, behind the Volcanic Playground, but he declined.
"The whole area is thermal. We cannot survive in Kuirau Park; it's too dangerous," he said.
There was a constant fear that the ground would give way under a child.
"I've got grandchildren and I would be horrified if one of them got burned," he said.
Toot'n Whistle has been out of commission since April and Mr Coleman is now hoping next month's local body elections will bring a change of faces - and minds - to the council table.
If that doesn't see things back on track, the train will leave town, possibly for Auckland.
Also on hold are the Coleman family's plans to spend more than $150,000 upgrading the operation.
Had the green light been given for the lakefront relocation, the locomotive was to be rebuilt, and new wagons, tracks and a station bought.
But Mr Coleman said, "Who would spend that sort of money to be stuck on a geothermal time bomb?"
Final whistle for town's tiny train
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.