Train fans all aboard for anniversary weekend

Paul Robertson, of Wanaka, takes a close look at diesel electric locomotive Dj 1221 with his son...
Paul Robertson, of Wanaka, takes a close look at diesel electric locomotive Dj 1221 with his son Ollie (21 months) before the train leaves Dunedin yesterday, during activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the city’s diesel electric locomotives. Photos: Linda Robertson
Dunedin's appealing diesel electric locomotive heritage was highlighted when three veteran locomotives carried railway enthusiasts from Dunedin to Middlemarch yesterday.

Many of the 164 passengers were members of the Auckland-based Railway Enthusiasts Society, and about 20 Australian tourists and some from the United States were also aboard.

Yesterday’s departure, shortly after 9.30am, began a key event in a weekend celebration by Dunedin Railways to mark the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s Dj locomotives.

It is understood that seven of the country’s nine operational Dj locomotives are owned by Dunedin Railways.

The Dj class locomotives were built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and introduced to New Zealand in 1968-69 to replace steam locomotives in the South Island.

Dunedin Railways operations manager Grant Craig said the anniversary events had been "very, very successful", and highlighted the appeal of Dunedin’s heritage locomotives and of a "beautiful part of the country".

The Middlemarch community had also thrown its weight behind yesterday’s anniversary event, and had celebrated with a street parade, a ploughing demonstration, and other activities.

This immaculately-restored Dg diesel electric locomotive, based in Christchurch, helped pull a...
This immaculately-restored Dg diesel electric locomotive, based in Christchurch, helped pull a special train to Middlemarch, from the Dunedin Railway Station, yesterday.
The anniversary activities had involved a successful "combined effort" by train heritage groups from throughout the country.

The groups included the Auckland society, Steam Incorporated, of Paekakariki, which had provided red-painted heritage carriages, and the Diesel Traction Group of  Ferrymead Heritage Park, which provided two heritage locomotives.

The international popularity of rail heritage was "increasing all the time".

"It’s a major tourist asset— that’s what Dunedin Railways is all about," Mr Craig said.

A hot day added to a "stunning" event, and it was "amazing" how much the Middlemarch community had contributed to the day’s success, he said.

The two days of Dunedin anniversary events ended yesterday, but train enthusiasts will also leave the Dunedin Railway Station at 8am today to travel to Invercargill on a special excursion train pulled by the Christchurch-based Di and Dg locomotives, pulling red heritage carriages from Steam Incorporated.

And tomorrow, the railway enthusiasts will leave Dunedin by train to return to the North Island, elsewhere in the South Island, and abroad.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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