Goldfields - Turua School

Goldfields
   Express

             Celebrating Waihi’s Rail Heritage - Summer 2020

                        Main Line gets a makeover
Dean McQuoid and Richard Humfrey have been hard at
work upgrading Goldfields Railway’s Waihi-Waikino
line.

The highly experienced pair from DBM Contracting has
been regauging a number of the sections of the track,
realigning the rails in other areas and installing
concrete sleepers along key points. They have been able
to do the work with virtually no effect on train
schedules.

“We decided to contract Dean and Richard in to do the
track maintenance, as they could get the job done more
effectively,” says Goldfields Railway’s
Secretary/Treasurer Chris Hale. “Because of the level of
experience these guys have, it is in fact less costly to
bring them in than to try to tackle the job ourselves. By
using specialist contractors, we also get a much higher
standard of work.”

He adds that once the Main Line has been upgraded,
long-term maintenance costs will be significantly           DBM will be contracted to do the work.
cheaper for the railway.
                                                            The role of Lotteries Heritage, The Lion
The railway has recently purchased a large supply of        Foundation, Trust Waikato and the Hauraki
good quality rails from KiwiRail that will be used to       District Council in supporting this work is
replace worn-out items.                                     greatly appreciated.

It’s our 40th year! 1980 - 2020

               DSa 551 in operation, wows visitors
Goldfields Railway’s award-winning Hunslet
diesel locomotive has been given the thumbs-up
by NZTA to operate on the recently upgraded
Waihi-Waikino heritage tourism line.

Considered the flagship of the railway’s fleet, DSa
551 has received a lot of positive comments from
both visitors and the local community. The more
powerful machine has already proven itself,
carrying some very heavy passenger loads this
summer season.

Those driving the 1953-era locomotive are
enjoying piloting DSa 551 and find it relatively
easy to control.

                                   A bridge too far?
As part of Goldfields Railway’s long-term strategy “With the station’s national historical significance,
to preserve Waihi Station’s unique heritage,        it’s important that we preserve the railway’s
investigations have started into the practicalities history in an appropriate manner,” said Executive
of adding a short length of track between the
current railway line and remaining bridge pylon
located at the Victoria St. end of the precinct.

The addition of a small portion of the former East
Coast Main Trunk Line would allow the ability to
move carriages between Lines 1 and 2, as well as
provide visitors a chance to view a piece of what
the original bridge would have looked liked when
it crossed Victoria Street on its way south.

Officer Peter Cooper. He added that with the site’s
Heritage classification, the work on this
mediumterm project would need to be done in a
way that does not diminish the site’s historic
fabric.

More progress on F564

Restoration work continues on the restoration of

                                                     Our R&M Team has now moved on to recladding the

                                                     more weather resistance ad lower maintenance,

                                                     made so far and looks forward to seeing the project
                                                     through to its completion. The group adds that F564

                                                     and a great attraction for visitors.

operation going.

backgrounds to help keep this local attraction

She adds that those who are new to the area,

                                    or our website
                     for an online form.

Signs of the times...

Visitors to historic Waihi Station may have
noticed some new signage.

Our carriages now have names on them that
reflect either where the rolling stock came from
or where they were first manufactured. The
change is part of a plan to better tell the history of
the railway and its trains.

Along with the external carriage signage, one of
our hard-working R&M Team members, Don
Henwood, has been collating descriptions of
each of the cars that will eventually be placed in       These explain that the campground is for paying
their respective passenger compartments.                 overnight visitors only, the location of the new
                                                         waste dump station on Victoria Street, and that
In addition, a number of new signs have been             we warmly welcome NZMCA members.
placed in Waihi Station’s overnight parking area.
                                                         Goldfields Railway thanks Hauraki District
                                                         Council and the NZ Motor Caravan Association for
                                                         their support in providing some of the signage
                                                         above.

                                                         The Hauraki Rail Trail Trust also kindly added
                                                         some promotional signage for the railway along
                                                         the Rail Trail. Goldfields Railway believes that the

signage additions demonstrates the benefits of
forging close strategic partnerships with other
complementary organisations.

  38 Wrigley Street, Waihi 3610
        Tel: 07 863 9020
Email: goldfieldsrailway@xtra.co.nz
    Web: www.waihirail.co.nz
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