Special Luxury Train Passes Through City

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6789, 22 February 1932, Page 6

Special Luxury Train Passes Through City

FLYING VISIT TO CAPITAL BY PASSENGERS OFF MARIPOSA

COMFORT OF RAILWAYS HIGHLY PRAISED Passing only an occasional train here and there along the line, a special railway train sped from Auckland to Wellington and back during the week-end, making the journey in fast time and being the first chartered private special to cover the complete distance in the history of tho Main Trunk line. Several executive members of General Motors, Ltd., arrived on Saturday morning at Auckland by tho Matson liner Mariposa, and, in order that they might visit the company's property at Wellington and confer with local officers there, a Main Trunk special, chartered at special rates, was used to convey tho party to the capital and back in time to join the ship, which sailed at 6 o’clock this morning. The train, carrying nine passengers and consisting of tho new de luxe cruising car, a de luxe sleeper and a van, left Auckland at 11 a.m. oil Saturday, passing through Palmerston North at 10.46 p.m. and arriving at its destination at 1.10 a.m. The return journey commenced at. 3 p.m. yesterday. Tho special reached Palmerston North at 5.30 o’clock, and was scheduled to arrive at Auckland about 5 a.m. to-day. Tourists Eulogise .Service

On both occasions the special stopped at Palmerston North for a few minutes for train examination purposes, and during the halt yesterday a Times reporter conversed with members of the party.

“Wo are very pleased with the arrangements made, and wo are making good time,’’ said a member, explaining that tthe inspection and business at Wellington had been successfully completed; “It is quite luxurious,” he stated in regard to the train, and went on to say that tho service was excellent. “We are most comfortable, and hope to reatfh Auckland at o a.m., as the ship sails for Sydney an hour later.” It is interesting to note that special trains have been chartered for shorter runs in New Zealand, such as from Auckland to Rotorua, but this is the first long-distance through special. This luxury train was not out to break records, but was running to a 14-hour schedule for the 400-odd miles, the Palmerston North-Wellington section of the journey occupying approximately the same time as that of the Limited express. The record for this distance must be held by the special medical train, which, rushing doctors, nurses and medical supplies to the Hawke’s Bay earthquake area last year, did the trip in two hours 10 minutes.