Some sleuthing by a Dunedin historic rail enthusiast has resulted in two halves of a 131-year-old Gumdigger A255 carriage being saved from Taieri properties, and put on the way to restoration in Wellington.
KiwiRail Dunedin-based plant fitter/fitter operator Clark McCarthy said he did ''a bit of rail history''.
''I'm always looking around the countryside for bits and pieces that are lying around.
''There's stuff everywhere.
''I try and save what I can.''
Mr McCarthy went to look at one half of the carriage at North Taieri, where it was being used to store wood.
''The guy [Philip Craigie] said he got his half from a place in Dukes Rd.''
Mr McCarthy found the other half on Dukes Rd, where it was being used as a chicken coop.
He contacted the Rimutaka Railway Heritage Trust (RRHT) to see if the organisation would like to take on the restoration project, as he knew it owned a chassis, and might be interested.
It was, and Mr McCarthy arranged for the carriage to be taken by rail to Wellington, where it was transported by truck to the Rimutaka Incline Railway at Maymorn, Upper Hutt.
RRHT general manager Hugh McCracken said it was ''a stroke of luck'' the two halves were found.
The carriage was one of 39 Gumdigger models that were in service throughout New Zealand, and were often used on trains over the Rimutaka Incline between Wellington and Wairarapa.
The trust aimed to return A255 to its former glory, retaining as much of the original material and character as possible, and a restoration project would start soon.
''It's great to have people actively working to keep the history of rail alive in New Zealand,'' Mr McCracken said.
Mr McCarthy said he understood the carriage found would be one of only two surviving A255 carriages.
He said about 34 were built between 1882 and 1887.
The carriage found on the Taieri was sold from Hillside workshops in 1964.
