N1 Bay of Islands Vintage Railway (Northland) @

Ran from Kawakawa to Opua until services were suspended in 2000. The highlight was said to be the run down the main street of Kawakawa. Stock includes a Pecket 4-4-0T (1730/1927).

N2 Whangarei Steam and Model Railway Club (Northland) @

This has a short railway in the Heritage Park at Mauna, some 5km west of Whangerei. Live steam days are held periodically in association with the local Environmental Museum. Likely power is a Pecket 0-4-2T.

N3 The Mainline Steam Trust (Auckland) @

This has the use of the former diesel depot at Parnell, Auckland. A number of locomotives are based here including some South African imports. The Trust works regular main line excursions. The trust has depots in Wellington and Christchurch (South Island). See the website for more information - http://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz

N4 Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland

Apart from its static exhibits, 2km away is the Western Springs Railway which operates irregularly. Power is likely to be one of their small tank locomotives. See the website for more information - http://www.motat.org.nz. They also have operational trams (occasionally use a steam tram) and stationary steam engines. John Raby's pictures of the locomotives in action are on one of my New Zealand steam holiday web pages.

N5 Glenbrook Vintage Tramway (Auckland) @

This major vintage train operation runs regular services including special enthusiast weekends. They have a number of ex-mainline locomotives. See the website for more information - http://www.railfan.org.nz/ This is their Alco Mallet:

N6 Bush Tramway Club (Waikato) @

This is near Huntly and only operates on the first Sunday of the month from April to December. As the name implies it is host to an interesting collection of unusual species including Climax, Heisler and Price logging locomotives. See the website for more information - http://www.bushtramwayclub.com. This is a Price CB type:

This is F Class 0-6-0ST (Dubs, 1171/1878)

N7 Goldfields Steam Railway (Coromandel) @

This line from Waihi to Waikino operates a mixture of small steam and diesel locomotives.

N8 Tauranga Museum and Historic Village (Bay of Plenty)

May operate a steam locomotive. (I have since found a note on a private website which stated the museum closed in 1999.) 

N9 Waikato Railway Museum, Te Awamutu (Waikato)

Described as 'difficult to locate' and 'a large barbed wire compound' between the Anchor Dairy Factory and the local racecourse had three ex-main line locomotives in 1998. I believe it is in the care of New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, Waikato Branch. At one stage it was said to be open on 'the third Sunday of the month'. 

N10 Steam Incorporated, Paekakariki (Wellington) @

Alongside Highway, 40km north of Wellington. Several steam locomotives for main-line excursions are kept here. They have a magnificent set of traditional red carriages. See the website for more information -  http://www.steaminc.org.nz/. There is the Wellington Tramway Museum nearby.

N11 Silver Stream Railway, Upper Hutt (Wellington) @

They have a large operational Ka class, a C class and a number of small tank locomotives are here and operate a passenger service over a short but attractive line. See the website for more information - http://www.silverstreamrailway.org.nz./. Picture by Nick Lera

N12 Gisborne City Vintage Railway Society Inc (Eastland) @

The society has restored Wa 2-6-2T 165 which is used from time to time for public excursions.

N13 Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum (Manawatu)

This is 20km south of Palmerston North. It has a superb collection of restored stationary steam engines and two steam rollers. It also has one or two small operational steam locomotives (for a small oval of track) as well as an unrestored Climax and Price C. See these websites for more information - http://www.pcurtis/tokomaru.htm and http://www.tokomaru.com. There are some pictures of the stationary steam here in my October 2002 report.

N14 Whangaparaoa Steam Railway (Auckland)

The 15 inch gauge Whangaparaoa Steam Railway http://www.rail.co.nz, is a friendly family run affair catering for families every weekend, it uses 2-4-4T Little Toot on a loop in recreated bush country:

N15 Feilding Steam Rail (Manawatu) - added 22nd April 2003.

Feilding Steam Rail is north-east of Palmerston North. They have leases for a Dubs F 0-6-0, a Dunedin build Wab 4-6-4 Tank engine, and a X class 4-8-2. The F and the W are operational and mainline certified. They have their our own rail depot with three large rail sheds and are building a fourth. They can open up for visitors any day of the week and we have working bee's on Wednesday and Saturday. See www.steamrail.org.nz.

South Island Click here for North Island

S1 Reefton (Westland)

Not an operational site, but notable for Fairlie 0-6-4T on display in Reefton Park.

S2 Shantytown, Greymouth (Westland) @

This is a replica of a West Coast gold mining town at the turn of the century with a short steam-operated tourist railway. See the website for more information - http://www.shantytown.co.nz/ and my October 2002 report.  The picture shows their type 'B' Climax.

S3 Weka Pass Railway (Canterbury) @

An 11km tourist railway from Waipara to Waikari over part of the former Waiau branch. 4-6-2 A 428 works trains when the fire risk is low. See the website for more information - http://www.wekapassrailway.co.nz/ and my October 2002 report.

S4 Ferrymead Trust, Christchurch (Canterbury)

This has a large collection of locomotives in Ferrymead Historic Park with both operational short tramway (standard gauge) and railway which are worked on open days. Some of their trams work in Christchurch city centre. This is Wd Class 2-6-4T 357 (Baldwin 19261/1901): Picture by Nick Lera Their website is www.canterburyrailsociety.co.nz. 

S5 Canterbury Steam Preservation Society, Christchurch (Canterbury) @

The society has a short operational circular railway at McClean's Island. See the website for more information - http://steamscene.orcon.net.nz/. This is another Price loco (148/1943) which is based on Heisler principles with 'V' disposed cylinders driving onto a longitudinal shaft:

This is a Fowler 0-4-0T (16426/1924) built for the Public Works department :

S6 The Plains Railway, Tinwald, Ashburton (Canterbury) @

A small operational museum with a collection including a number of ex-main line steam locomotives. See http://www.plainsrailway.co.nz.and my October 2002 report. Picture by Nick Lera

S7 Pleasant Point Railway and Museum (Canterbury) @

At Kearnes Crossing, 2km from Pleasant Point Village. A museum with a number of ex-mainline steam locomotives and a short railway. See the website for more information - www.pleasantpointrail.org.nz.  Picture of L class by Nick Lera

S8 Oamaru Steam and Rail Inc (Otago) @

At Oamaru Harbour, next to the Tyne Street Heritage Area. It operates trains through the harbour complex with a small tank locomotive. See the website for more information - www.oamaru-steam.org.nz/. Picture by Nick Lera

S9 Otago Early Settlers Museum, Dunedin (Otago)

Not an operational site, but notable for Fairlie 0-4-4-0T 'Josephine' on display. This 1872 locomotive is the oldest in the country and reportedly worked its first train. See the website for more information - http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=sites_osm. 

S10 Otago Steam Trust, Dunedin (Otago)

The trust has a restoration work shop in Minerva Street on the outskirts of town.

S11 Ocean Beach Railway, Dunedin (Otago) @

This is run by the Otago Railway and Locomotive Society and has been running 'preserved' trains for 40 years. Current operational stock comprises small tank locomotives. See the website for more information - http://www.obr.org.nz. I visited here in October 2002.

S13 Project Steam Dunedin Inc (Otago) 

This organisation is restoring two P Class 2-8-0s recovered from the Clutha River in 1992. See http://ourpage.co.nz/psd/ for more information.

S12 Kingston Flyer (Southland)

Running now between Kingston and Fairlight, the regular power is one of two Ab 4-6-2. See the website for more information - http://www.kingstonflyer.co.nz/. I visited Kingston as part of my October 2002 holiday. Alas, news reports in July 2009 indicated that the parent company is effectively bankrupt and there are some doubts as to whether the railway will operate the normal season starting in October 2009 - check carefully for updates locally before visiting (11th July 2009).

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