Pahiatua rail buffs serve rare treat

Rail buffs are in for a rare treat on Sunday when a old favourite of the rails makes its first public appearance as a passenger carrier in 40 years.

The RM31 standard railcar Tokumaru that started work for New Zealand Rail in the late 1930s mainly on the Wellington-Gisborne and Wellington-New Plymouth return service was retired in 1972, and next week's appearance will be its first mainline outing since then.

Now in the care of the Pahiatua Railcar Society, the fully restored Tokumaru only recently achieved full certification for mainline running.

Certification came after a successful mechanical test run and a second run for crew training.

Operations manager for the society Graeme Moffatt said the Open Day on February 12 had been made possible with the help of other organisations. The heritage engine would be making several trips between Eketahuna and Woodville during the day.

At Pahiatua Railway Station there will be exhibits and displays, including a line-up of vintage cars, tractors and farm machinery and military vehicles.

Craft and food stalls will be selling their wares and for the younger brigade there will be a bouncy castle.

RM31 Tokumaru along with its sister railcar RM30 Aotea did some Wellington-Masterton-Palmerston North runs after the Rimutaka Rail Tunnel opened in 1955 and before railcars were decommissioned.

Of the six standard railcars in service all were named after ancient Maori canoes being Tokumaru, Aotea, Pangatoru, Takitimu, Tainui and Tikitere.

The Pahiatua Railcar Society is dedicated to the restoration of railcars, other locomotives and rolling stock.

It is based at Pahiatua Railway Station.