Bay of Islands Vintage Railway
Encyclopedia
The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust (BOIVRT) is a heritage railway in Kawakawa
, in Northland in New Zealand
. The railway operates on part of the former Opua Branch
railway.
services beyond Otiria
. The service began with a 4-4-0 Peckett on loan from the Portland Cement Company at Whangarei
. The railway proved popular with tourists, and in the summer seasons of 1985/1986 and 1986/1987 the railway leased Mainline Steam
s J 1211 to haul three return trains a day. The locomotive did not return for the 1987/1988 season because of the Ferrymead
125 years celebrations that year.
In 1988 the group was reformed as a preservation society, the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. The railway continued operations until 2001, when the Land Transport Safety Authority
withdrew the line's operating licence.
There is now an active campaign to restore the railway, including the rebuilding of the locomotives, refurbishment of passenger carriages, and upgrading the line to safe standards. Currently, operations cover 4.5 km of track, including the famous stretch along Kawakawa's main street. The railway is now opened as far as Taumarere
, having passed a safety audit on a bridge before the station. The terminus in Opua is on land now owned by Far North Holdings, the trading arm of Far North District Council, and negotiations are under way for trains to return to Opua by late 2011.
The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway runs throughout the year, and as of May 2010, it runs everyday at 10.45am, 12noon, 1.15pm and 2.30pm - the round trip takes approximately 1 Hour. Passengers may leave the train at Taumarere and catch a later train back to Kawakawa.
For most of the year, ‘Gabriel the Steam Engine’ is used on Saturdays and Sundays, and ‘Fredrick the Diesel Engine’ is used on Fridays, however the actual engines used may vary from this depending on public and school holidays and availability of personnel and maintenance. Specifically on school holidays ‘Gabriel the Steam Engine’ is used on Fridays and Mondays in place of ‘Fredrick the Diesel Engine’.
Kawakawa, New Zealand
Kawakawa is a small town in the Northland Region of northern New Zealand. It had a population of 1347 at the 2006 census, down from 1401 in 2001. Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found in the area in 1861, but there is no longer coal mining here...
, in Northland in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The railway operates on part of the former Opua Branch
Opua Branch
The Opua Branch or Otiria-Opua Industrial Line, partially still operational as the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, is a former section of the North Auckland Line in the Northland Region of New Zealand, between Otiria and the Bay of Islands township of Opua. The first section was constructed as a...
railway.
History
The railway was formed as the Bay of Islands Scenic Railway, a private company, in 1985 following the withdrawal of New Zealand Railways CorporationNew Zealand Railways Corporation
KiwiRail Network, formerly ONTRACK , is the infrastructure arm of KiwiRail. The ONTRACK trading name was introduced in 2004 after the government repurchased all of New Zealand's rail infrastructure from Toll NZ. It does not operate revenue rolling stock...
services beyond Otiria
Otiria
Otiria is a rural locality in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It neighbours Moerewa to the east, with the nearest major town, Kawakawa a few kilometres further eastwards. Other nearby localities include Pokapu to the south, Orauta to the west, and Hupara to the north.-...
. The service began with a 4-4-0 Peckett on loan from the Portland Cement Company at Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
. The railway proved popular with tourists, and in the summer seasons of 1985/1986 and 1986/1987 the railway leased Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over rail lines throughout New Zealand...
s J 1211 to haul three return trains a day. The locomotive did not return for the 1987/1988 season because of the Ferrymead
Ferrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
125 years celebrations that year.
In 1988 the group was reformed as a preservation society, the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. The railway continued operations until 2001, when the Land Transport Safety Authority
New Zealand Transport Agency
The New Zealand Transport Agency is a New Zealand Crown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing and investigating rail accidents. It was created on 1 August 2008 by the Land Transport Management Amendment...
withdrew the line's operating licence.
There is now an active campaign to restore the railway, including the rebuilding of the locomotives, refurbishment of passenger carriages, and upgrading the line to safe standards. Currently, operations cover 4.5 km of track, including the famous stretch along Kawakawa's main street. The railway is now opened as far as Taumarere
Taumarere
Taumarere is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 11 runs through the area. The Waiharakeke Stream runs through Taumarere into the Bay of Islands. Kawakawa is 3 km to the southwest. Paihia is 14 km to the north....
, having passed a safety audit on a bridge before the station. The terminus in Opua is on land now owned by Far North Holdings, the trading arm of Far North District Council, and negotiations are under way for trains to return to Opua by late 2011.
Operations
For most of the year, ‘Gabriel the Steam Engine’ is used on Saturdays and Sundays, and ‘Fredrick the Diesel Engine’ is used on Fridays, however the actual engines used may vary from this depending on public and school holidays and availability of personnel and maintenance. Specifically on school holidays ‘Gabriel the Steam Engine’ is used on Fridays and Mondays in place of ‘Fredrick the Diesel Engine’.