By CATHY ARONSON
TE AWAMUTU - One man with a vision is attempting to save the run-down Te Awamutu train station from demolition.
Eighty-one-year-old Tuffy Burchell wants to turn the station into a tourist spot by making it home to a model rail display, a rail museum, theatrette, art gallery and replica carriage cafe.
The Waipa District Council has refused to back Mr Burchell's proposal and gave Tranz Rail the demolition orders three weeks ago.
Tranz Rail plans to replace the 50-year-old train station with a fibreglass shelter and lighting.
Te Awamutu councillor Patricia Tindle said the council liked Mr Burchell's idea but he did not have financial backing.
The station has been a haven for the homeless and a target for vandalism since it was abandoned by Tranz Rail workers in 1996. But Mr Burchell has refused to give up his dream and has enlisted the support of Community Probation Service workers to clean up the station.
He said the station had not been vandalised since he put up about 20 signs a month ago, reading: "Please no more vandalism, help save the station for children's train hobbies."
Tranz Rail customer services manager Shane Ellison said $15,000 had been spent over the past two years on maintaining the station but it continued to be vandalised.
However, Mr Ellison said he would wait to see if Mr Burchell's vision became a reality before demolishing the train station.
Mr Burchell said: "I'm on borrowed time but I've got nothing to lose. There is a lot of public support to keep our train station." It is not the first time the lifetime Te Awamutu resident has drummed up support for a community project. It took him five years to build Te Awamutu's information centre, still open 35 years later.
He said the station was part of the town's history and renovating it would encourage rail use. It would also entice some of the 100,000 passengers who pass through the station each year to stop at Te Awamutu.
Tuffy's vision steams ahead
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