Tuesday, 09 March 2010
THE 2000-plus crowd that attended Saturday’s Experience Matata festival were treated to some nostalgic fun with the arrival at midday of a steam engine loaded with 250 passengers from Tauranga.
Many vintage and classic aircraft, cars and motorbikes were also on display at the event, as well as numerous craft and food stalls.
Purchased along with 15 other “JA” locomotives by New Zealand Railways from the Glasgow-based North British Locomotive Company in 1950, JA1275 worked the main routes of the North Island until it was retired from active service in 1968.
The oil-fired locomotive is now privately owned and leased to Mainline Steam, a company specialising in steam train excursions.