Waitakere Rainforest Express To Be Re-Activated

The Waitakere Ranges Rainforest Express, well known to MOTAT Trammie old timers, is being re-established by the Waitakere Rainforest Tramline Trust under the leadership of local Councillor Ken Turner. Ken, is a mechanic with an engineering business and is both a Waitakere Ranges and heritage enthusiast, living on the harbour side at Āwhitu.

The Rainforest Express miniature train operated by Watercare from 1998 until 2013 for tourists with a three hour return trip from Titirangi to the Upper Nihotupu Dam on the old rail line which was established to build the dam and for subsequent maintenance to the pipelines. The line was closed for the tourist run following concerns over the risks to the line from slips and so forth. The last year it was active, it carried 20,000 passengers, a major visitor attraction for the Waitakere Ranges, including a number of MOTAT Society outings.

Ken and the Trust volunteers have been working at the Watercare depot on the Rainforest equipment. In February Council approved an initiative for staff to engage with Watercare Services to provide the Trust with access to the Waitakere Ranges tramline assets to assist the group in the re-activation of the Rainforest Express operation and in obtaining a lease of the land of the tramline rail bed from Council.

The original Robinson & Harris steam locomotive ‘Hector,’ used for the original construction of the line, now in a derelict state, was donated by Watercare to the Trust and has now been moved via Ken’s workshop to the Huia Museum for a static display.

by Bill Rayner