Steam Inc's monthly excursion brings 200 train buffs to Whanganui

A steam excursion train hisses into the railway siding at Whanganui East. Photo / Bevan Conley

About 200 passengers climbed aboard Steam Inc's excursion train in Paekakariki for a trip to Whanganui yesterday, guard Graeme Clover says.

The steam engine JA1271 left Paekakariki at 7.20am and arrived in Whanganui at noon. It was completely staffed by volunteers.

Passengers left the train, with many taking one of Whanganui's river boats for a jaunt upriver during the stopover.

While they were away about 230 Whanganui people got into the six carriages for a short trip to the Whanganui East rail siding and back. The engine then hauled the day visitors back to Paekakariki, leaving at 3pm.

Steam Inc does an excursion every month, Clover said. The last ones were to Taihape, and to Napier for Art Deco Weekend.

For Whanganui's Richard Cox, waiting at the siding, the train brought back memories of his trip to Auckland in 1963, to join the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Back then the journey took 12 hours, and the nearest stop for passengers was Marton, where people boarded a bus to reach Whanganui.

Cox said the carriages filled with smoke if windows were left open as the train went through a tunnel.