Railway Enthusiasts Enjoyed Their Trip

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29714, 6 January 1962, Page 15

Railway Enthusiasts Enjoyed Their Trip

Twenty-one male members of the Auckland Railway Enthusiasts’ Society stepped off a train from Lincoln at the Christchurch railway station about 5 p.m. yesterday, thoroughly happy after a week-long holiday spent travelling on South Island lines.

Since December 28. the party has toured by train on the main south line between Christchurch and Dunedin and on branch lines between these two points, with frequent stops for sight-seeing and photography. A trip to Southbridge, Lincoln, and Little River yesterday marked the end of their tour. The party travelled back to the North Island by steamer-express last evening—and will travel to Auckland by the scenic daylight limited today. The party, led by Mr I. Barker, ranges in age from 15-year-old Frederick Denz, a Mount Albert Grammar School pupil, to 67-year-old Mr Alfred Smith, an Auckland City Council worker.

Denz left school at the end of last year, and will soon begin work —as a clerical cadet with the Railways Department. Although the society has several women and girl members, none of them went on the tour just ended. ‘‘You have to rough it a bit on these railway trips, and besides, it get’s a bit complicated having women with you,” said one young member of the party. The party's itinerary, travelling both on ordinary services and special trains, was: December 28: Christchurch to Rakaia, Rakaia to Methven and back, Rakaia to Ashburton.

December 29: Ashburton to Mount Somers and back. December 30: Ashburton to Timaru, Timaru to Fairlie and back.

January 1: Timaru to Dunedin, Dunedin to Roxburgh and back (with the Dunedin branch of the Railway and Locomotive Society). January 2: Dunedin to Oamaru via Port Chalmers. Dunback, Makareao, and Ngapara branches. January 3: Oamaru to Kurow, Kurow to Pukeuri. Pukeuri to Timaru via Waimate.

January 4; Timaru to Christchurch. January 5; Christchurch to Southbridge, Southbridge to Lmcoln, Lincoln to Little River and back, Lincoln to Christchurch.

The party has slept on its trip in two sleeper carriages attached to the normal passenger or goods trains, with its own diner-kitchen carriage also attached. Four of the party acted as cooks throughout. When a special train was required for the party's travels on branch lines, the party travelled in a 37-seater carriage, with the two sleeper carriages and i diner-kitchen carriage attached.

The Aucklanders appeared favourably impressed with South Island weather “We didn’t strike one wet day, only a bit of mist,” said one member of the party. Comments on South Island scenery included “A change from the North Island;” “Very flat where we went;” and “An abundance of poplar trees.”

Of the Christchurch railway station, one member conceded: “Very good.” Tlie enthusiasts’ whole tour was enthusiastically summed up by Denz as “Beaut.”