On March 12, 1963, a television news crew from Channel One's 9pm news filmed the president of Lions Clubs International opening Wanganui's newest attraction.
The Tot Town Railway's 50th anniversary celebrations today probably won't attract quite the same coverage, but the milestone will be celebrated by the Wanganui Lions Club members who have kept Kowhai Park's miniature railway in operation for half a century.
The occasion will be marked with a ceremonial cake cutting. A barbecue lunch will also be on offer as well as fun activities for kids, including a bouncy castle and facepainting which will benefit St John New Zealand.
But the real focus will be on two stars: the trains, both of which will be running for rides.
The original red locomotive and its carriages were built at the New Zealand Railways Aramoho plant for only 10 shillings, thanks to sponsorships.
Materials such as sleepers and rails were donated by local companies and the 350m track was cleared and laid by Lions members, scouts and even volunteer members of the public.
One of those volunteers was the late Keith Waters, whose wife Enid recalls him taking part in the first working bee with a spade and a glass - the spade to work with, and the glass for a beer afterwards.
The railway has a special link to the Waters clan with three generations being involved: first there was Keith who later became a driver, then their two sons joined the driving roster while their daughter worked in the shop and, most recently, two granddaughters also volunteered there.
"I don't know if I'll be able to make it to the celebrations but one granddaughter who worked in the shop might, and she'll probably take her own little ones along."
Jim Ennis, who has been a club member for 40 years and has been involved with the trains for about 35 years, said the familiar red engine was originally built from parts of an old New Zealand Railways jinker used for track maintenance.
"It was all very mechanical, with a clutch and gears and so on, but about 15 years ago we decided to upgrade it with a hydrostatic drive. It's much easier now as you have just one lever with which you make the engine go forward, backward, and to stop."
Unfortunately over time more maintenance was needed on the little red loco and, three years ago, the decision was made to retire it and purchase a new diesel engine, which has had its external body shell reworked by members to replicate the full-scale locos used by KiwiRail.
Today's anniversary celebrations will mark only the second time the two engines have run together.
Kevin O'Sullivan, past president of the club and now publicity officer, said thanks to health and safety procedures and thorough training for new drivers the railway was very safe.
"We've been pretty accident-free over the years. We've only ever had the odd derailment due to people putting things on the track, but we have a 'cow catcher' on the front to sweep away anything that may be on the track ahead, so it shouldn't happen again.
"The new engine also has its speed governed so it can't be driven too fast."
Many people had joined the Lions Club for the purpose of getting involved with the train and they now had a roster of about 30 drivers, but Mr O'Sullivan said more were always welcome.
The Tot Town Railway 50th anniversary event begins at Kowhai Park at midday today and rides on both trains will be available for a gold coin donation.