The Plains Vintage Railway – Tinwald, Ashburton

It must have been good luck, we think, for us to be staying in Ashburton the weekend the vintage trains were running.  Several of our men are real train enthusiasts, and the ladies aren't adverse to a ride in a vintage train now and again.  It was a bleak and chilly morning when we set off on the short drive down to Tinwald to find the Plains Vintage Railway and Historical Museum.  We put our gold coin donation in the box and entered the gates.

We’re at the right place

What’s that?  How exciting, it looks like steam today!  The museum has three preserved locomotives and one vintage railcar to pull the vintage carriages, and it was the turn for this little beauty to take a turn today.  The engine is a K88, built in 1877 by Rogers Locomotive Works, at New Jersey.  After a productive working life, this poor little engine was scrapped, pushed over the side of the Oreti River and used as flood protection.  In 1974 the engine was uncovered and moved to the Plains Railway Museum, and the slow process of restoration began.  These days, the engine looks very smart with shiny green paint, brass fittings and a copper steam dome. We boarded one of the carriages for our 15 minute trip through the plains, and our  $8 ticket entitled us to enjoy two rides during our stay.

 K88 all ready to go

The men took a trip through the engine shed.  The huge JA1260 is a “local” and was built at Hillside Railway Workshops, Dunedin in 1952.  By contrast, the miniature traction engine is very small indeed.

JA1260

Miniature traction engine

Back outside again we wandered around looking at some of the vast array of vintage trucks and engines.  The basic Bedford Diesel Fire Engine from 1960 showed just how far technology has taken the fire engines of today.

  1960 Bedford Fire Truck

Back in the “good old days” home milk delivery was the norm, and dairy factories were found in every town.  The Midland Co-op Dairy Co used this Bedford in the 1950s right here in Ashburton.

Bedford truck

The railway station on site was formerly the Chertsey Station, and was built in 1919.  The Ashburton Jaycees relocated the building in 1976. 

The Plains Railway Station

There is also a Pioneer Village with many buildings to wander through – everything from a church, cottage and shops from the era.  We gazed through the windows at a shoe shop and marvelled at just how tiny those ladies shoes were.  The chemist shop was interesting with all those pills and potions.  and to keep the ladies amused there were displays of vintage washing machines and sewing machines.

  Moylan Market

Early cottage

Meanwhile, the  K88 was getting up a head of steam for another trip up the line.  Cameras were snapping at this wonderful sight.  It must be time to climb aboard for our second ride of the day. 

K88 all steamed up