Glenbrook Vintage Railway
By Richard Moore
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The Ww480 No.1 steam
engine
at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
(images courtesy of TikiTouring.co.nz)
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One of the really interesting things about touring around
New Zealand is the fact that you come across all sorts of
cool things to do and see tucked away in out-of-the way places.
While on a drive through the countryside to the south of
Auckland we came across an amazing vintage railway society
at Glenbrook (about 9 kilometres from Waiuku), where you hop
aboard lovingly restored rolling stock for a journey into
yesteryear.
Volunteers dressed in 1890s' costumes man the rebuilt station
and buildings, or dealing out cups of tea and snacks, while
others prepare a grand collection of engines and carriages
for your 12-kilometre journey.
You have a marvelous choice of places to sit - from luxurious
leather seating, to carriages with pressed metal ceilings
and antique lamps.
If you want more adventure and to get the real smells and
sounds of steam engines then hop aboard an open car positioned
right behind the engine. You get the delightful smell of burning
coal, followed by cinders and soot - but it should be mentioned
that it's best to avoid wearing light-coloured clothing.
The thing that amazed us was the sound of the steam whooshing
out of the mechanics - it really is loud and comes out at
high velocity.
The No.1 engine we were on - a former New Zealand Railways
unit Ww480 - had us going along the rails at a very creditable
30 kilometres per hour.
At the end of the line you get a 10-minute stopover at the
workshops where engines and rolling stock are restored to
operational status and also you can watch as the fireman refills
the coal load, or water levels are topped up.
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The
engine cab gets very hot, and it's
from here that the train is controlled
(images courtesy
of TikiTouring.co.nz)
|
Then it's back to the station. All up the journey takes about
45 minutes.
If you are really lucky you may get an opportunity to take
the ride in the engine cab and see how the driver and firemen
have to work the vintage set-up.
It is slightly cramped - and can get pretty hot - and you
do need to be mindful there is an open door at your side -
but what an adventure!
Adam, the fireman, scooped shovels full of South Island coal
into the furnace at very regular intervals and made sure the
steam pressure never rose above 180 pounds per square inch
(psi).
Our driver, Robert, who's also the society's accountant,
easily worked the levers and brakes and moved the heavy machine
as if it was a Mini Cooper - we barely felt it as the engine
recoupled with the carriages for the return journey.
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway was built in 1970 - construction
began only three years after the Waiuku line was closed by
the Government - and has been operating since 1977.
Now if you've got youngsters or grandchildren who are into
Thomas the Tank Engine and friends then the Glenbrook Vintage
Railway does put on special Thomas days. Now that has got
to be heaven for them!
And if you really want to go back in time then there are
jigger rides available. You have a choice between motorised
ones that go for 4km, or hand-operated ones around the station.
Glenbrook Vintage Railway Details:
Glenbrook Station Rd,
Glenbook.
Tel: (+64) 9 236 3546 (operating days only)
Operating Schedule:
The regular operating season starts on New Zealand Labour
Weekend (late October) and continues until Queen's Birthday
(early June). During this season trains operate Sundays and
most public holiday weekends.
Trains run on the hour from 11.00a.m. to 4.00p.m.
Tickets:
· Adult $12
· Child $6 (5 to 15 years)
· Child under 4 years - free
· Family ticket $30 (2 adults plus up to 6 school age
children)
· Group discounts available for parties with 15 or
more fare-paying passengers (apply on the day).
Links:
Railfan:
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
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