Excursions

[Roadhog]

www.railfan.org.nz/
Railway Enthusiasts Society

Waves & Wheels to Opua - Saturday 28th February 2009
A combined boat and rail excursion from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and return.


The Southern Shearer - Saturday 4th April 2009
Palmerston Nth - Te Kuiti - Palmerston Nth

This is your opportunity to take a seat for a new excursion, by airconditioned express train, north to Te Kuiti, in New Zealand.s Waitomo District. Take the opportunity to see the rugged Central North Island on our one-day return excursion from Palmerston North to the Great New Zealand Muster and NZ Shearing Championships.

The Northern Musterer - Saturday 4th April 2009
Auckland . Te Kuiti - Auckland

This is your opportunity to take a seat for a new excursion, by diesel-hauled express train to Te Kuiti, in New Zealand.s rural heartland. Escape the city and enjoy a day out in the real New Zealand on our one-day return excursion from Auckland to the Great New Zealand Muster and NZ Shearing Championships

[Roadhog]

www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/excursions.html
Mainline Steam Trust

Currently working on: Double Drivers. (May 2009) Watch this space. Interested. Email.
One train from Auckland. One train from Wellington. Meet at Taumarunui. Join them together. Run to Ohakune with lots of photo stops and two runs up the Raurimu Spiral.
20/02/09. Timetable now confirmed and approved by ONTRACK.

New Zealand Steam Tour October 12th to 31st 2009.

Join Mainline Steam for this fantastic journey of discovery from Auckland to Christchurch and lots of places in between. This steam hauled journey will visit such places as Napier, Gisborne, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. There will be ample opportunity to take in the sights in and around these beautiful cities.

Mainline Steam utilizes its collection of mainline certified locomotives to haul the train around New Zealand and this year we intend to double head the train over some sections of the tour. We will also be spending time in Dunedin where the Otago Excursion Train Trust is organising the 100th anniversary of the line to Middlemarch. Special trains will be operated over the Taieri Gorge line and our steam locomotive Ab663 will be hauling one of them. Steam is rare on this line so you won't want to miss this.

As well as riding behind our locomotives there will be time to visit places such as the Weka Pass Railway and the Plains Railway and we kick the tour off with a visit to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway where we have booked a steam hauled mixed train especially for us. The GVR has one of the largest collections of restored rolling stock in New Zealand. There will also be time to ride regular scheduled trains in Wellington, if you wish, and to visit other rail museums along the way.

The tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Christchurch but we are offering an optional add on which will allow for travel back to Auckland over two days using both scheduled services and one of our steam hauled trains.


Sunday Lunch
29th March 2009.

Forget the gloomy times and come with us for a joyful day out amongst the vines at Vilagrad Winery in Hamilton. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch and a few wines with friends.

The train will depart from the Strand station at 8:45am. Reporting time is 20 minutes before departure. Free parking is available on the station. Entrance to the station is from Ngaoho Place, which is off The Strand. Station stops will also be made at Papakura and Papatoetoe.



Fares: $139 per adult. $129 per child.

Includes return train fare, coach transfer to Vilagrad and buffet lunch. (wine at your cost).

Book 10 or more people and get 2 seats free.

Last year this train sold out so book now to make sure of your place

Arthurs Pass Excursions 2009.
Excursion Dates: 7th June, 5th July, 9th August, 13th September.

This year the long range prediction is for lots and lots of snow in the mountains. Jb1236 is chomping at the bit to get back amongst it with these spectacular day trips. The train is fully heated and has a buffet car service hot drinks and light refreshments. (extra cost). The carriages also have large windows so you can fully appreciate the view and there will be photostops along the way so you fully experience the steam train as it runs past the photo line.

In 2008 the trains all booked out weeks in advance so if you want to go this year do not leave your booking until the last minute as you could well be disappointed.

Midland Mountaineer. Christchurch to Greymouth return.
September 5th & 6th 2009.

Join Mainline Steam for this great weekend adventure. Travel from Christchurch to Greymouth on Saturday 5th. Stay overnight and return on Sunday 6th. Accommodation in Greymouth is the historic Kingsgate Hotel. On Saturday evening there will be a sumptuous buffet dinner and a chance for an enjoyable evening with all your fellow passengers. Our journey to and from Greymouth will be behind steam locomotive Jb1236 and takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand as our train crosses high viaducts and clings to the mountainside high above turquoise rivers. There is a chance there may still be snow on the mountains. Places are strictly limited and last year this trip sold out, so don’t delay in booking. The train is heated and has a buffet car serving light refreshments. (Extra cost).

Call 0800 462-978 today to secure your seat. A booking form is available here.

[Roadhog]

www.steaminc.org.nz/
Steam Incorporated

Feilding Field Days Flyer - 14th March 2009


Our next day trip is running from Paekakariki to Feilding and return on Saturday 14th March.

The train will comprise Steam Inc's vintage train, with open balcony carriages, hauled by steam locomotive Ja1271.

The main optional activity at Feilding will be to attend the Central Districts Field Days. The Field Days are New Zealand's largest regional, rural event and highlights include over 500 exhibitors, 4 Seasons Home & Leisure Rural Lifestyle Pavilion, Straighfurrow Ag Pavilion, Husqvarna Wood chopping Area, National Excavator Championship, Best of Beef, Ramsay Roundwood Lumberjack Show, Stihl Festival of Logging Skills, Vintage Machinery Display, Technipharm" Equine Rough Riders Extravaganza", Aerial Displays.

Alternative options available at Feilding include a country pub lunch, or a visit to the local Steam rail Depot and free time in Feilding.

The train will stop to pick up passengers at Paraparaumu, Waikane, Otaki and Levin. The departure time from Paekakariki is 8.30am, returning about 6pm. Train fares from Kapiti stations are $75 for adult and $50 for child. Ex Levin fares are $60 adult and $40 child.

[Roadhog]

www.gcvr.org.nz/excursions.asp
Gisborne City Railway

Excursion date Information Availability
11/04/2009 Excursion Title: Easter Express
Excursion Time: 12:30

Gisborne to Muriwai return. Departs Gisborne railway station. Tickets $25 for Adults and $15 for Children in first class Car. $20 for Adults and $10 for Children in all other cars. Yes
11/04/2009 Excursion Title: Easter Express
Excursion Time: 14:30

Gisborne to Muriwai return. Departs Gisborne railway station. Tickets $25 for Adults and $15 for Children in first class Car. $20 for Adults and $10 for Children in all other cars. Yes
12/04/2009 Excursion Title: Easter Express
Excursion Time: 12:30

Gisborne to Muriwai return. Departs Gisborne railway station. Tickets $25 for Adults and $15 for Children in first class Car. $20 for Adults and $10 for Children in all other cars. Yes
12/04/2009 Excursion Title: Easter Express
Excursion Time: 14:30

Gisborne to Muriwai return. Departs Gisborne railway station. Tickets $25 for Adults and $15 for Children in first class Car. $20 for Adults and $10 for Children in all other cars. Yes

[Roadhog]

Double Drivers 2009 (As advertised on the radio)

15th, 16th, 17th May

Seats still available. Book now to secure yours.
Updated 14th April 2009.

One steam train from Wellington.


One steam train from Auckland.


They meet in Taumarunui and then in unison create a cacophony of sight and sound as they thunder between Taumarunui and Ohakune with a myriad of photo opportunities including two runs up the Raurimu Spiral.

Experience the thrill of a bygone era with overnight travel on the main trunk as Ka942 thunders north through the night from Wellington for a dawn rendezvous in Taumarunui with Ja1275 which has travelled through the night from Auckland. Breakfast with the sunrise while the Taumarunui yard comes alive to sound of working steam as the trains are serviced, turned and united into one.

After breakfast the fun really begins when the two locomotives lead our train south for our overnight stop at Ohakune. Stops will be made so you can stand at line side and experience the mind numbing sight and sound of two large steam locomotives thundering past at track speed causing the very ground you are standing on to tremble.

Just when you think you cannot possibly see anything better we reach the Raurimu Spiral. We will make two runs over this engineering masterpiece, one with Ka942 leading and one with Ja1275. Here you can truly appreciate the beauty and majesty of steam while standing at trackside in the very heart of the spiral. You will be praying your camera battery won’t die and your memory card is not full.

From the spiral our train continues south towards Ohakune crossing the soaring viaducts and skirting the volcanic heart of the island with Mount Ruapehu watching our progress. We will stay overnight in the ski resort town of Ohakune, where you can recover your senses, and on Sunday morning both trains will depart for their respective cities with more opportunities for photos during the return journey.

This is a rare opportunity to experience two days and two nights of majestic steam trains, magnificent scenery and great company. All tied together with Mainline Steams world renowned friendliness and sense of fun and adventure. Time is short so book now to secure your seat.

Full Trip including train travel from Auckland or Wellington.1 nights accommodation in Ohakune and breakfast on Sunday morning.
$559 per person twin share. $659 per person single.



Saturday train only Taumarunui to Ohakune. $269 per person.



Departs Wellington 15th 10:05pm from the Plimmerton Depot. Passenger stops at: Paekakariki 10:31pm and Palmerston North 12:05am.

Departs Auckland 16th 12:15am from the Parnell Depot. Passenger stops at Papatoetoe 1:16am, Papakura 1:34am and Hamilton 03:40am.

Both trains include a buffet car for light refreshments during the journey. Breakfast stop in Taumarunui while the trains are serviced.

[Roadhog]

Arthurs Pass Excursions 2009.
Excursion Dates: 5th July, 9th August, 13th September.

This year the long range prediction is for lots and lots of snow in the mountains. Jb1236 is chomping at the bit to get back amongst it with these spectacular day trips. The train is fully heated and has a buffet car service hot drinks and light refreshments. (extra cost). The carriages also have large windows so you can fully appreciate the view and there will be photostops along the way so you fully experience the steam train as it runs past the photo line.

In 2008 the trains all booked out weeks in advance so if you want to go this year do not leave your booking until the last minute as you could well be disappointed.

Booking forms are available here. 5th July. 9th August. 13th September.

[Roadhog]

Fieldays Fun Day.
Saturday June 13th 2009.
Travel with Mainline Steam to Hamilton for the annual agricultural Fieldays. Much more than sheep and cows the Fieldays incorporate 98 acres of exhibitions and displays. See the latest in high tech farm equipment or sample some of the finest food and beverage New Zealand has to offer. Watch the super tractors in the Tractor Pull competition, check out the latest in garden ideas and much more.

No worries about driving or parking as we provide buses from the train to the entry gate of the Fieldays so you can arrive relaxed and ready to go. At the end of the day you can relax on the train for the journey back to Auckland behind our magnificent Ja1275 steam locomotive. This is a great way to have a fun day out for the whole family and to make new friends.

The train is fully heated and there is a buffet car serving light refreshments.

The fare includes return train travel Auckland - Hamilton - Auckland. Bus transfers from the Hamilton Railway station to the Fieldays and back again. Entry to the Fieldays.

Adults $95. Children (2yo - 15yo) $75 Family (2A-2C) $290. Group discounts for 10 or more. Please call for details.

Book and pay before the 20th May 2009 and go into the draw to have 1 Adult ticket refunded. (Does not apply to Family or Group Discount tickets).

A booking form is available here or telephone [phone] to make your reservation today.