On Saturday, 31 years on from the fight to save Ormondville's historic railway station, 300 people turned out to ride a 1938 railcar to tour five viaducts on the line and celebrate the survival of the railway precinct.
And just as importantly for people returning for a great day out at the street festival, which 1500 attended, it was a chance to share stories and memories. Dannevirke's Nancy Wadsworth (nee Howes) recalled the days when a bank, butchery and bakery were all part of the village.
Woodville's Clive Boyden went to school in Ormondville in the 1940s and he too can remember those businesses and the sheep being driven to the rail yards for their trip to the Gear Meat Works in Wellington.
"It was all go then," he said. "Today has been like a reunion, catching up with people from the past, it's been great."
For Rae and Chris Walker and Rod McKenzie of Waipukurau, Saturday's event was "brilliant."