Bill Town has been a long-serving volunteer on board the Art Deco Festival steam trains.
Bill Town has been a long-serving volunteer on board the Art Deco Festival steam trains.
For more than 30 years, William “Bill” Town has been a familiar face on the steam train that roars into Napier for the annual Art Deco Festival.
The 84-year-old volunteer has only missed one festival during that time, and has decided next month’s festival will be his last as acart steward.
Vintage steam trains are an iconic part of the festival.
Paekākāriki-based Steam Incorporated brings festival-goers up to the event annually on one of its steam trains, and runs daily trips throughout the four-day festival.
Town has been a cart steward volunteer since 1994 and, once again, will be on board the Ab608 Passchendaele steam train this year - marking his last journey for Art Deco Festival.
“I love doing it, but I’m finding the body is getting a bit aged now,” he said with a laugh.
“I just like seeing all the people getting dressed up.”
Bill Town at a previous Art Deco Festival. Photo / Supplied
The Foxton resident started working on railways at the age of 17 in Gisborne and spent the rest of his career on railways and around trains, with stints in Wairoa, Napier and Wellington.
“I had a great life on the railways, it was bloody beautiful.”
As for steam trains, Town said he “just fell in love with their noise and all the rest” from a young age.
He said being involved with steam trains through volunteering with Steam Incorporated had been fantastic, not to mention “the comradeship of the staff”.
The father of seven has family in Hawke’s Bay, and is looking forward to celebrating his last festival with family.
He said his favourite part of the train line was probably the Napier to Gisborne section, which was no longer in use. He said he would love to see it reopened in future.
The 2026 Art Deco Festival runs from February 19-22.
