This LABOUR DAY - step onboard our lovingly restored heritage coaches, hauled by steam locomotive Ja1271. Settle into your seats to enjoy this special trip through the riverside city of Whanganui to Kai iwi and return.
Jump on board with the Glenbrook Vintage Railway and Steam Incorporated as we join forces and celebrate 100 years of the Waiuku Branch Line – where the GVR is based – and Steam Inc celebrates its 50th anniversary!
Glenbrook Vintage Railway have teamed up with our friends at Steam Inc to bring to Glenbrook their resplendent Ja1271, for a number of joint trips in Auckland & the Waikato.
So hop on board as we step back in time – to how rail travel used to be – and experience steam on the main line.
This Labour Day - bring your friends and family along for this epic steam-hauled train adventure.
Departing Whanganui in style, we will cross the river and after a short stop at East Town to fill the steam engine with water and run it around to the front we will begin the journey north!
The fearsome Westmere Bank lies between us and Kai Iwi. This is a steep hill with a gradient of 1 in 35 on our ascent (that is 1 metre climbed for every metre travelled horizontally) and up to 1 in 39 on our descent down the other side. Here you should really hear the engine working!
Just before we come into Kai Iwi, we are traveling on a relatively new part of the line called the Kai Iwi deviation. Completed in 2008, the deviation is just under a kilometre long and bypassed the old No.4 tunnel. See if you can spot some of the old route.
At Kai Iwi, watch as the engine passes round us again to take us home. The climb from this side of the Westmere Bank is not as steep but is still no walk in the park!
After another short stop at East Town we will steam our way back into town for where you will disembark from your train adventure today.
Whanganui to Kai Iwi
Adult $59 | Child (2-14) $45
Whanganui |
dep. | 4.25pm |
East Town | dep. | 5.20pm |
Kai Iwi |
arr. | 5.55pm |
Kai Iwi |
dep. | 6.20pm |
East Town |
dep. | 7.15pm |
Whanganui |
arr. | 7.35pm |
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COVID-19 Information
As this is a pre-booked
allocated-seating tour, face coverings are not compulsory but are
strongly encouraged. For more info see the official NZ Government
COVID-19 website.
In
the event that the NZ Government or its agencies prevent the operation
of this tour taking place due to COVID-19, refunds of fares paid (net of
outgoings made from those fares) may be made by GVR upon written
application being received from booked passengers.
Seating Information
We
aim to seat passengers from the same booking together. You will be
allocated at least one window seat for bookings of 2 or more (subject to
availability). Where possible, seats will be turned to face the
direction of travel (pairs and singles) or to face each other (groups).
If you are travelling with people on a different booking or have another
specific request then please email us as soon as possible at [email protected]
and we will try and accommodate your request the best we can. Your
allocated seat and carriage details will be on your boarding pass which
will be emailed to you at least 2-3 days before your departure date.