Full support for Silver Fern railcar grant

• Published date: 08 November 2021

A lengthy discussion concerning the viability and potential of the purchase took place at council’s Wednesday, October 29, monthly meeting, with proponents arguing:

●The price of $60,000 for three railcars and parts conservatively valued at $500,000 was a bargain;

●The potential for tourism in the Tararua was huge;

●There was a prospect of an engineering training facility;

●The PRS has been entrusted with the caretaking and restoration to mainline certification of these railcars;

●The society has a skilled and enthusiastic group of volunteers;

●The project aligns with the four wellbeings in the Local Government Act and its Long Term Plan strategic objectives of building a vibrant economy through tourism, business and training.

The council report also outlined the challenges of storage, security fencing and restoration costing up to $400,000.

It concluded: “This is a unique offering in New Zealand. As Hobbiton is to Waikato and Weta Workshop is to Wellington, these are the only Silver Fern railcars in New Zealand and they are in Tararua.”

Councillor Shirley Hull said the PRS volunteers were a hard-working and skilled bunch and she envisaged the railcars travelling all over the North Island once COVID alert level 1 is in place, while Councillor Alison Franklin said she dreamed of a trip to Tangiwai at Christmas.

Mayor Tracey Collis said the PRS has a long history of reliability and a good track record (pun unintended) in management with a wide level of expertise.

The motion was passed without dissent.

HistoryPahiatua Railcar Society was formed in early 1990 to obtain the remains of and restore RM5 “Mahuhu”, the last survivor of the Wairarapa Class of railcars which, for nearly 20 years (1936-1955) ran up to eight services a day over the Rimutaka Incline between Wellington and Woodville, and on to Palmerston North.

“In that era, they carried many thousands of passengers, mail and parcels to and from Pahiatua and numerous other local districts and indeed played a major role in developing our local district,” said Don Selby, president of Pahiatua Railcar Society. “This project eventually took 30 years and was only finally completed a few months ago.

“Along the way the society grew and developed a major base at what used to be the Pahiatua Railway Station. Over the years they steadily expanded and have acquired seven historic railcars, including examples of all...