By DOUG JOHNSTON
Operations Manager
Pahiatua Railcar Society Inc
Standard Railcar RM 31 "Tokomaru" returns to this weekend's Whanganui Vintage Weekend to give the public rides to Eastown and Westmere.
The railcar last featured at the event in 2016 with local trips proving popular.
Tokomaru is one of six Standard Class railcars built at the Hutt Railway Workshops between 1938-1939 and were commonly seen operating between Wellington to New Plymouth until 1972.
Four of the six built Standard railcars survive today in preservation and RM 31 Tokomaru is the only heritage ex NZR railcar certified to run the national rail network, having regained mainline running rights in December 2011. After withdrawal in December 1972, RM 31 was saved by the late John Murphy and has been based at the Pahiatua Railcar Society since 2001. Still largely in original "as retired" condition, RM 31 has been a popular attraction on excursion trips around the lower North Island including events like the Festival of Lights in New Plymouth and Napier Art Deco. The Pahiatua Railcar Society is also home to another Standard railcar, RM 34 Tainui, which is awaiting work to bring it up to mainline running condition.
RM 31 will run five shuttles to Eastown from the Wanganui Freight Centre and one to Westmere starting at 10am on Saturday, January 18 and will repeat the schedule on Sunday, January 19. The shuttles and the trips from Palmerston North can be booked on the Pahiatua Railcar Society website excursion page www.railcars.co.nz or via Whanganui i-Site.
