Railway expert and RSA stalwart Noel Meek, of Greytown, has died.
Mr Meek, 88, died on Sunday.
Mr Meek was a co-founder of the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston and was president of the organisation which ran the museum from October 1989 to October 2006.
He was also a regular on the doorat the museum, helping host thousands of tourists and train enthusiasts over the years.
Mr Meek was a gold star badge holder with the RSA and was awarded the MZNM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in the 1999 New Year Honours list for his services to the community.
In an interview with the Times-Age in 2008, Mr Meek said his interest in rail began as an 11-year-old.
''I would sit up in the station box and work the signals and tablet machines,'' he said. ''Everything was moving and there was so much activity. It was all steam until 1938 when the rail became electric.''
He was particularly concerned about ensuring the next generation continued to maintain the the Fell engine.
''The great thing about the Fell museum is that it gives a chance for the kids to get interested,'' he said. ''They're the future. We're going to need them to become the next volunteers.''
A service to celebrate his life
