Silver Ferns RM24 and RM30 being grouped up in Picton prior to transfer to Wellington by ferry on the way to Pahiatua.
Silver Ferns RM24 and RM30 being grouped up in Picton prior to transfer to Wellington by ferry on the way to Pahiatua.
At their Wednesday, October 29 monthly meeting, the Tararua District councillors unanimously agreed to grant $60,000 from the council's Heritage Reserve to help fund the Pahiatua Railcar Society's (PRS) purchase of three Silver Fern railcars from KiwiRail.
A lengthy discussion concerning the viability and potential of the purchase ensued, proponents arguing:
• The price of $60,000 for three railcars and parts conservatively valued at $500,000 was a bargain;
• The potential for tourism in the Tararua was huge;
• There was a prospect of an engineering training facility;
• The PRS has been entrusted with the caretaking and restoration to mainline certification of these railcars;
• The society has a skilled and enthusiastic group of volunteers;
• The project aligns with the four wellbeings in the Local Government Act and its Long Term Plan strategic objectives of building a vibrant economy through tourism, business and training.
The council report also outlined the challenges of storage and security fencing as well as restoration costing up to $400,000. It concluded: "This is a unique offering in New Zealand. As Hobbiton is to Waikato and Weta Workshop is to Wellington, these are the only Silver Fern railcars in New Zealand and they are in Tararua."
Wairarapa Railcar RM5 MAHUHU is driven out of the railcar depot on September 26, by Bernard Watson, who led the restoration project for much of the last 30 years.
Councillor Hull said the PRS volunteers were a hard-working and skilled bunch and she envisaged the railcars travelling all over the North Island once Covid alert level 1 is in place, while Councillor Franklin said she dreamed of a trip to Tangiwai at Christmas.
Mayor Collis said the PRS has a long history of reliability and a good track record (pun unintended) in management with a wide level of expertise.
The motion was passed without dissent.
History
Pahiatua Railcar Society was formed in early 1990 to obtain the remains of and restore RM5 "Mahuhu", the last survivor of the Wairarapa Class of railcars which, for nearly 20 years (1936 - 1955) ran up to eight services a day over the Rimutaka Incline between Wellington and Woodville, and on to Palmerston North.
"In that era, they carried many thousands of passengers, mail and parcels to and from Pahiatua and numerous other local districts and indeed played a major role in developing our local district," said Don Selby, president of Pahiatua Railcar Society. "This project eventually took 30 years and was only finally completed a few months ago.
"Along the way the society grew and developed a major base at what used to be the Pahiatua Railway Station. Over the years they steadily expanded and have acquired seven historic railcars, including examples of all types which have run in New Zealand since the mid-1930s, except for the Vulcan cars, which only ever operated in the South Island and are well represented at several sites down there.
"In fact, five of the fleet, including the three Silver Ferns, are quite unique in that they do not exist anywhere else in the world. In addition to the Wairarapa and Silver Ferns, the society is working on a complete rebuild of RM121, the last survivor of the 35-strong Drewry Twin Set class, which operated throughout New Zealand from 1954 for about 30 years and were regarded as totally extinct.
"Around the 1990s a small group of PRS members formed a trust which, over time, located enough surviving components to commence work on what has become one of the most ambitious railway restorations ever attempted in New Zealand
"Major components, including the two original bodies of RM121, were (over time) recovered from such diverse locations as a quarry in Kerikeri, Auckland Airport, a motel at Waitomo Caves and a site in Christchurch.
"None of the original Fiat engines was known to survive, but the group has recently purchased a lot of components from retired Pacer Class railcars in England, including fully overhauled horizontal Cummins engines and drivetrain components, which will be shortly shipped to New Zealand.
"These engines are known to be very successful in the UK Pacer Class and will overcome the problem which dogged the Drewry Twin Sets throughout their career - unreliable Fiat engines.
"All funding for this project is raised independently but it is effectively just another PRS project.
"The society's other two railcars are two of the four survivors of the highly successful 1938/39 built Standard Class, which operated throughout the North Island (including our local district) until about 1978.
"The fully restored RM31 Tokomaru already operates all over the North Island.
"The second one, RM34 Tainui, is intact and on the 'one day we will get around to it' list. Meantime, getting the first Silver Fern overhauled and ready for service is a priority."
