Eketahuna: Tracking back in time

MAKE WAY: The train crossing an overbridge north of Mauriceville. PHOTO/STUART COOK

The Eketahuna Express historic steam train made its annual journey to Wairarapa on Saturday, raising money for a station building in Eketahuna.

The train carried around 500 passengers throughout the day from Paekakariki to Masterton, making special stops at the Woodville Races, Pukaha Mt Bruce and Paper Road Vineyard.

John Bovis, from organisers Steam Incorporated, said tickets sold for the Eketahuna-Masterton section raised an estimated $900 for the Eketahuna Railway Station Project.

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month, said Mr Bovis, aims to install a small railway station building that was moved from Waikanae, to the Eketahuna stop.

"It's the same style of building that was previously at Eketahuna."

The Pahiatua Railcar Society also plans to enhance it with a mini museum for tourists.

Mr Bovis said the JA 1271 is "a young steam engine" built in Dunedin in 1956 and the carriages are over 70 to 100 years old.

The two oldest carriages are from 1909 and were built in Petone and Newmarket.

It is the same train used at the Carterton Daffodil Festival.

The rest of the money raised goes towards the maintenance and restoration of Steam Incorporated's heritage fleet.