Mainline Steam

The Mainline Steam Heritage Trust is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over rail lines throughout New Zealand. These excursions provide travellers with the unique opportunity to relive the days when steam was king while experiencing the magnificent New Zealand countryside. Excursions are operated by the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch branches.

The Trust began in 1988 after the Ferrymead 125 events in Christchurch. Based around the collection of steam locomotives that were privately owned by Mr Ian Welch, the first of which had begun operating on the main line with J 1211 with excursion to Timaru and Arthurs Pass double heading with the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's J^A 1250 for the Ferrymead 125 which was based in Christchurch. Depots sprang up in Parnell, Middleton and later Plimmerton. The Auckland depot used to be based in the old Parnell diesel depot. It was in the past the organisation’s primary restoration base and most of Mainline Steam's currently active locomotives were restored there. It closed in 2015. The Wellington depot, located at Plimmerton, is a purpose-built building which replaced the formerly leased Upper Hutt goods shed. It has now become the primary restoration base for the organization. The depot in Christchurch is a former industrial building that used to be located at Studholme, it was relocated to land on the premises of CWF Hamilton.

Mainline Steam is notable for having imported a number of African steam locomotives from South Africa and Zimbabwe (including a GMA/M Garratt), with more South African locomotives still overseas. It has also imported former British Rail Mark 2 carriages for use on its steam-hauled excursions, and is in the process of overhauling them for NZ use – it currently relies on spare carriage stock being available from Tranz Scenic. The organisation regularly operates excursions out of Auckland and Christchurch, the latter operating excursions primarily along the highly scenic Midland Line. Mainline Steam also has a number of diesel and electric locomotives in its care.

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