FRONZ 50th Anniversary

Starting off our adventures, we have RM 31 from the Pahiatua Railcar Society waiting in the yard before moving onto the mainline.

Photo by Jezza Clarke

RM 31 along with its society mates Standard Railcar RM 34 along with Silver Ferns RM 18 and 30.

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After backing onto the North Wairarapa line, RM 31 travels towards the platform at Pahiatua.

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Passengers board the service on the platform before heading north towards Woodville.

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Approaching the crossing at Pukemiku Road.

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RM 31 crosses Pukemiku Road en route to Woodville

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Pacing south of the bridge at Woodville.

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North of the bridge in Woodville at Bluff Road.

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Approaching the Manawatu Gorge at the site of the now daylighted Tunnel 5. The gorge is now only accessible by rail, after the permanent closure of State Highway 3 through the gorge in 2017.

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Stoney Creek Road.

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Arrival into Palmerston North for the Grand Cavalcade, we see the latest in carriages vs the classic and iconic 56ft steel passenger car.

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The first locomotive in the Cavalcade is GVR's DBR 1254, built in 1965 by GM-EMD as a DB locomotive, then later rebuilt in 1981 as DBR 1254.

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The second locomotive in the Cavalcade was Steam Incorporated's DA 1410, built in 1955 by General Motors.

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1410 rolls past as the public takes photos and admires the locomotive.

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After DA 1410 cleared the platform, it was the turn of sister locomotive DA 1431. This locomotive was built by General Motors in 1957.

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Carrying on from the DA is DC 4818. Itself rebuilt from a DA locomotive, it was built as DA 1481 in 1964, then later rebuilt in 1983 by Clyde Engineering as DC 4818.

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DC 4818 is the most recent locomotive in the cavalcade to enter preservation, having returned to service for the Glenbrook Vintage Railway in 2024

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Next up was GVR's locomotive Ww 644 which steamed its way from Auckland over a multi day tour of the North Island. Ww 644 was built in 1915 at the New Zealand Railways Hillside workshops in Dunedin.

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The only railcar in the lineup, RM 31 takes its spot in the cavalcade as it rolls past the platform. The railcar was built in 1938 at Hutt Workshops.

Photo by Jezza Clarke

Ab 608 "Passchendaele" was built in 1915 at the NZR Workshop in Addington. The locomotive was the only NZR steam locomotive to be named. It was named Passchendaele in honor of New Zealand servicemen who lost their lives in the battle of Passchendaele. This is the first reappearance of Ab 608 after a 10 year overhaul, having just been completed in the last few weeks

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Steam Incorporated's Ja 1271, built in 1956 at Hillside workshops in Dunedin is a seasoned veteran of heritage excursions. Ja 1271 was the last locomotive to take its place in the cavalcade.

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After the Cavalcade, the diesel locomotives were sent north to Fielding to turn around on the turntable before returning to Palmerston North, seen here at the iconic Bunnythorpe dip.

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DBR 1254, DA 1410, DA 1431 and DC 4818 at the top of Bunnythorpe dip returning south bound to Palmerston North.

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Further up at Bunnythorpe we see RM 31 on its shuttle trip to Fielding.

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Later at the same spot, Ww 644 leads a mixed train of carriages on its own run to Feilding.

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After arrival in Feilding, the train was lead into the yard at Feilding Steam and Rail for servicing.

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Once again at Bunnythorpe, with Ww 644 bunker leading back to Palmerston North.

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Pacing back to Palmerston North.

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The evening sun begins to set on a cold winter's evening, with DC 4818 on standby for its south bound service.

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DBR 1254 shunts DA 1410 and DA 1431 into a siding. The DAs were left here for the weekend.

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DC 4818 and DBR 1254 making Palmerston North station yard feel like a late 1980s scene, although the DAs are not slated for withdrawal.

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AB 608 lead its first excursion since its recent overhaul on the Ararere Express, from Palmerston North to Woodville. The service was meant to be double headed with Ww 644, however due to operational issues Ab 608 took the train solo.

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On Day 2 of the three-day event, we started at the Bunnythorpe Substation for the Steam Incorporated double header trip to Ohakune, seen here with Ab 608 leading the northbound trip.

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Ab 608's driver gives a friendly wave to locals who turned out to see the excursion.

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Ab 608 and Ja 1271 seen at the Maewa crossing.

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Going into the Maewa curves with a combination of Steam Inc's red and GVR's steel passenger cars.

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At Kakariki bridge, a photographer is seen getting his photo of the train coming off the bridge.

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The train is seen just past the Makohine Viaduct passing an old shed.

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The two locomotives make plenty of smoke and noise as it travels north towards Taihape.

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At Taihape the train stopped to take on water before continuing north. Many locals turned out to see the train.

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Ja 1271 as seen behind Ab 608.

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Ab 608 waits for time to depart Taihape.

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Leaving Turangarere tunnel before approaching the horseshoe curve.

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The two locomotives make a steady pace up the curve with the long excursion consist.

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The entire train is seen in all its glory.

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Turangarere was a very popular place on this occasion! Many enthusiasts turned out to see the train.

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At Tangiwai, the train slowed to a gentle crawl over the bridge where in 1953 New Zealand's worst train disaster occurred. 153 people lost their lives here when the Wellington-Auckland Express plunged into the river below after the bridge was destroyed. The whistles echod in a ghostly way across the valley, in honor of those lost.

Photo by Jezza Clarke

On arrival in Ohakune, the locomotives were serviced and turned on the turntable.

Photo by Jezza Clarke