Book tracks North Otago rail history

Oamaru Steam and Rail and the Rail History of North Otago, the past, the present, the future, is a soon-to-be published limited-edition reference book that tells the story of North Otago Railways.

The 250-page book featuring 500 ‘‘curated’’ photos charts the railways from Glenavy in the north, to Oamaru and its establishment from 1870, along the Hakataramea Valley and south to Palmerston, Dunback and Inch Valley.

Last year the Oamaru Steam and Rail Restoration Society commissioned local author and former Oamaru Mail journalist Jacquie Webby to write a book on the rail heritage of North Otago including the history of Oamaru Steam and Rail and the pivotal leadership role of Harry Andrew.

Miss Webby said the ‘‘educational side of Harry’s story shows how valuable he and the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society is’’.

‘‘Harry has loved trains since he was a kid at 5 years old.

‘‘He shares his memories of trains and finding and refurbishing locomotives and carriages, and a lot of his contribution to the railways here has also come out of his own pocket.

‘‘Society veteran John Paul [JP] has also written about the 100-year celebrations of the B10, the steam locomotive on the cover of the book, and how they acquired it and how it was rebuilt and its history there,’’ she said.

The book committee was headed by Mr Andrew, in his 38th year as society general manager, as well as society president Ken McCallum, vicepresident David Wilson, secretary Janet Andrew, and Miss Webby.

She said the book was a history of the region, a history not previously recorded as a book.

‘‘This is the definitive history of the formation and growth, and the value of the society to Oamaru and North Otago.

‘‘You can’t measure that and Harry’s contribution, he’s such a marvellous person.

‘‘I’ve got to know his wife Janet — she’s a great support and the whole crew down there, the atmosphere is just brilliant.

‘‘I really applaud the group that is run by about 100 volunteers who roll up their sleeves and get on with the job.

‘‘And in the book is how Harry has mentored some of the people that society just cast aside. They are the future of the railway and one of them even has his own business now.’’

Mr Wilson said Miss Webby ‘‘had done a fine job’’.

She said that it was either ‘‘woe to go, or go to woe’’ when documenting locomotives rebuilt by the society members, which was formed in 1985 to preserve locomotives, such as the B10.

Mr Andrew received the Paul Dillicar Award for innovation and leadership from the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand last year for getting the B10 back into service.

Mr Andrew’s latest project, the DM16 Phoenix, also included in the book, is scheduled to ‘‘rise from the ashes’’ when relaunched later this year, Mr Wilson said.

Mr Andrew and several society members continue the rebuild of the Phoenix, a 36-tonne rail passenger vehicle, with diesel electrics.

Miss Webby was grateful to the ‘‘amazing support’’ from private collections and the Waitaki Museum & Archive for photos for the railway book.

‘‘Bill and Mike Cowan, they’re father and son, and longtime train people, they gave us access to their amazing collection and I worked closely with the archives staff at the museum, Elly Dunckley and Rosalie Elliffe, who were fantastic.’’

The society will launch pre-orders this coming week.

The limited print run of the A4 size, full-colour book will cost $60 (plus shipping). Design and printing has been done locally by Brackens Print & Signs.