Iconic steam train stolen from Napier's Anderson Park

Ryan Lawson, now the Hawke's Bay Model Engineering Society president, driving the Maid of Kent through a tunnel at Anderson Park in 2019. Photo / NZME

An historic working model steam locomotive which has been a children's attraction in Napier for 60 years has been stolen amid fears that it will be broken down and sold as scrap metal – for as little as $100.

The theft of the Maid of Kent, a metre-and-a-half long with tender included and weighing at least 70kg, was discovered on Wednesday by Graham Leabourn as he checked the track at Anderson Park, Greenmeadows, and shed the Hawke's Bay Model Engineering Society, of which he has been a member and volunteer for all but three of its 60 years.

It would be impossible to sell as a working engine, he said, although there is a demand with similar engines still being built in New Zealand.

He and new society president Ryan Lawson say that with the weight and a degree of difficulty it would have taken at least two people to lift it from a track in the shed off the Park Rd side of the park, where volunteers operate rides for children and family amusement most weekends.

Both said it seemed thieves targeted the "Maid", bypassing at least two lighter engines after forcing entry to the shed some time since Sunday evening.

Dating to a Sunday afternoon confrontation in which a youth pulled a knife on one of the society volunteers, there have been many incidents of graffiti and vandalism, and notable thefts of gates on a track bridge over a pond and, in the last few weeks, two mowers and a wheelbarrow.

The Maid of Kent has been stolen from a locked shed at Anderson Park, Napier.

In one incident four padlocks securing the premises had been cut, at a cost of about $200, at a park amusement where Sunday takings are considered good if they're over that mark.
But the theft of the five-inch gauge locomotive the Maid of Kent, along with its tender, shovels and coal, is a major step up, thieves having bypassed lighter engines before lifting the steamer from its track to steal a significant item that is almost impossible to offload in New Zealand, even as scrap.

Thieves have also stolen other items from around the park, including a swing and chains from a playground, and taps.

Lawson says the theft has devastated the volunteers of the not-for-profit society, who include members of retired age who turn out weekend after weekend to run the trains, which also includes more modern diesel locomotive replicas.

The use of the "Maid" to provide rides in Napier dates back to an approach by Westshore Residents Development Association member Cedric Alexander to model engineering enthusiasts Bob Finlay and Tom Frater in 1960 to finish building the locomotive.

A track was then laid beside the Westshore Surf Lifesaving Club offering rides at sixpence each (five cents) during the busy times when thousands flocked to the beach in the summer.

The two enthusiasts were able to operate their own engines on the tracks, and the proceeds would fund development association activities beautifying the Westshore reserve.

A new boiler was fitted to the Maid of Kent in 1982 and the trains continued running at Westshore until 1994. At one stage they were encouraged to link with the newer Keirunga facilities in Havelock North, the locomotive society re-established facilities at Anderson Park.

Lawson says the steam locomotive has nostalgic value to many people, with emotional connections made with Percy, of Thomas the Tank Engine fame, and to Sunday-morning radio time story favourite Sparky and the Talking Train.

Police investigating the burglary have completed a scene examination, but said today if anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the miniature train they should make contact by phoning 105 and quoting the file number 220511/1883.