Smallest steam train takes out award

4 June 2012

Smallest steam train takes out award

A 91-yearold steam locomotive that is thought to be the country’s smallest has won a prestigious restoration award.

The Steam Locomotive Restoration award was last night presented to the team from Silver Stream Railway that preserved Locomotive 531, at the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand (FRONZ) conference, held in Rotorua. The award is jointly sponsored by Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Steam School and Greymouth’s Shantytown.

Locomotive 531 is the country’s only operating Barclay locomotive. It began its service with the Public Works Department in 1921 on the Stratford to Okahukura branch line, which is currently threatened with permanent closure.

The steam engine was retired around 1950 and was left to rot before being rescued by well known transport preservationist Sir Len Southward in the 1960s. After being moved to Tokomaru and then Nuhaka, Locomotive 531 was bought by a group of Napier rail enthusiasts in 2001.

The Hawkes Bay Steam Society began restoration and in 2009 the locomotive was leased to the Silver Stream Railway where its overhaul was completed.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Steam School tutor Ian Tibbles says the Barclay locomotive has been lovingly restored and is the only one of its type in New Zealand, and possibly the world.

“The Silver Stream Railway volunteers are deserving winners. They raised the money to restore the locomotive and build a new boiler after several previous attempts at restoration by other groups. They were a dedicated team who begged and borrowed parts from around the country,” he says.

The team of volunteers was lead by Jason Durry who says almost all of the restoration work at Silver Stream Railway was performed inhouse.

“The range of skills our team possesses is immense including welding, machining, painting and general fabrication. Now that the locomotive is complete it is planned to run it at least once a month,” says Mr Durry

Despite the fact the steam engine was invented 200 years ago there is still keen interest in the historic mode of transport. Since the Steam School ran its first course in 2009 a steady stream of steam enthusiasts from all over New Zealand have learnt how to drive a steam engine. The next intake for the Steam School is in July 2012.

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ENDS

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