The fondly remembered Silver Fern railcars were the height of luxury, gliding between Auckland and Wellington in the 1970s and 1980s.
Don Selby, Society president Don Selby stands inside a workshop. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham
Travelling on them was glamorous and passengers could relax and have a drink, or a smoke, as the countryside rushed past.
In the early 1990s the three railcars were sent up north to operate between Auckland and Tauranga and Rotorua. Then they became tourist charter trains until they were retired by KiwiRail a couple of years ago.
For the past year they've been sitting on sidings at a country railway station, while the Pahīatua Railcar Society gives them an overhaul.
The society would love to have at least one back on the rails in time for the 50th anniversary of their introduction next year, although that might be too soon.
For now, the group of dedicated train enthusiasts is working to restore the Silver Ferns, alongside the society's other projects.
Doug Johnson drives up from Upper Hutt every Sunday to work on railcars, alongside about a dozen other volunteers.
They've decided to focus on getting one Silver Fern up to scratch first and Johnson spent one of his days in Pahīatua recently inspecting a railcar's interior.
They've not in bad condition, having been upgraded a decade or so ago.
Johnson, who works for KiwiRail, has fond memories of the Silver Ferns in their Auckland-Wellington heyday.
"I remember them from when I was a boy. I was always captivated by railcars," he said.
"I travelled in these around about 1990, the summer of 1990-91, and did about three Auckland-Wellington trips, and it was marvellous. They're the nicest riding cars in the country and the quickest. They were very quick, very fast.
"I really enjoyed travelling in them, but when I travelled in them they had the older interior, which was still nice, but [from the] 70s, 80s. It was getting a bit dated."
Bruce Hermann, the society's main railcar driver, shares a similar nod to the halcyon days of rail.
Society engine driver Bruce Hermann remembers the good service on the Silver Ferns and the stops in Taihape. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham
"I remember when I used to travel on them they were really fast and in the late 70s they were really modern for their time. They could really motor along."
Inside, they were luxurious.
"They had a nice hostess service. You could buy alcohol there. [They] also used to stop at Taihape for half an hour for lunch. There was a smoking compartment [and] a non-smoking compartment, not that that's applicable any more."
The three Silver Ferns have since last year lived at the Pahīatua Railcar Society’s base. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham
Hermann said the railcars required a bit of work, including on their structure, as well as checks of their electrics and other equipment.
The society has been around for about three decades and has an enviable collection of railcars, some of which are in working order and others that are little more than shells being patiently restored.
President Don Selby said when the chance to buy the Silver Ferns came up, the society grabbed it.
It paid $60,000, but received hundreds of thousands of dollars of parts and rolling stock.
The society, however, had to construct a security fence, lighting, cameras and extra sidings for the Silver Ferns, doing about $80,000 of earthworks.
"We've got examples of all the railcars that have operated in New Zealand apart from one group which only ever operated in the South Island," Selby said.
"We never really thought that we'd be offered the Silver Ferns, and when they did we knew that it was a one-time chance and if we didn't accept it we would regret it forever afterwards."
The Tararua District Council recently approved a grant from its heritage fund of $60,000 to the society.
Tararua District mayor Tracey Collis says rail plays an important role in rural residents’ lives. Photo: Jimmy Ellingham
Mayor Tracey Collis said that recognised the work of the society, and the district's intrinsic links with rail.
"I've been fortunate enough to take the railcar and catch it not far from my own farm. We have platforms in the rural areas.
"People here can remember the days of if you were catching the train to boarding school you would just go to your local intersection."
The Silver Ferns held a special place in many people's memories, she said.
"For young people to have that same experience, I think it really opens up domestic tourism opportunities right through the country. When you take the rail through the back country of New Zealand it is just so beautiful."
