FRONZ50: Part 4, Main Trunk Steam Spectacular

Over Matariki Weekend 20-22nd June 2025, the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Steam Incorporated, the Fielding & District Steam Rail Society, and the Paihiatua Railcar Society, all congregated at palmerston North Station to celebrate 50 years since the formation of the Federation of Railway Organizations New Zealand. Formed in 1975 as an advocacy group for heritage rail in New Zealand, they have since achieved a number of goals, particularly in co-operation between groups. It was also 40 years since steam returned to NZR rails with a GVR & Steam Inc excursion. In Part 4, we ride behind Ab 608 and Ja 1271 from Palmerston North to Ohakune and return. While Steam Inc. have run double headed steam, this has been over the Wellington-Woodville route, the last time double headed steam was on the central portion of the North Island Main Trunk being back in 2008. This trip travelled over the Mangaweka deviation with its stunning viaducts, reached Waiouru, which at 813. 82m above sea level, is the highest railway station in NZ, passed the site of Tangiwai, the worst railway accident in New Zealand history, and over the Turangarere Horseshoe, one of the many engineering marvels devised to get the line through in the early 20th century. Apologies for the wind in some of the shots, I may have to get a microphone to stifle the sound. In many cases though, you can still hear the locos working hard!