Map of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Thursday
The Glenbrook Railway put on a great show for Railfanās Day. It was their largest turnout ever for such an event and we squeezed 80 or so onto two carriages and into the photo positions. We got in each others way of course but the results look OK. We started off diesel hauled with a heritage diesel but then they turned out two small locos A 67 from Ocean Beach and Y 542 from MOTAT on trains and we had runpasts with all 3.
Next was runpasts with a Ba 552 4-8-0 (Mainline Steam) and a Ww 480 4-6-4T (Glenbrook) and an English Electric diesel DE 507 (GVR) built in 1951.
The finale was triple heading with 3 versions of the North British Jb class 4-8-2--Jb 1236 (Mainline Steam), J 1234 (Steam Inc.), Ja 1250 (Glenbrook). This spectacle was last seen around 1971 or so and the trio looked splendid climbing the bank to Morley Road in the late afternoon sun.
I shot about 45 minutes of film during the day. Most of it is now the core of the Glenbrook video. After that, we all went our separate ways. I drove to Waiuku again to pick up provisions from the supermarket and eat fish and chips.
Good Friday
New Zealand still has a trading ban in place for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Parliament is deciding whether to lift this.
Today was somewhat tame after Railfan day but I drove to all of the road crossing points and checked out the access to the trackside and fields that came with my Weekend Pass. The highlight of the day was a cavalcade at 4:30 comprising Model T Railcar, A 67 0-4-0T, Y 0-6-0T, Ww 4-6-4T, J 1234 4-8-2 and Ja 1236 4-8-2. Ba 552 4-8-0 brought up the rear with a train to get people back to Glenbrook. All the trains today were overfull and the railway was surprised by the turnout. At Glenbrook they had traction engines (3 different English makers), various small exhibits and trade stalls, a band playing and Clydesdale horses plowing.
Saturday
Today was a mopping up day for photos. There were no special events and the weather took a turn for the worst with more wind and some rain. Then It rained heavily overnight and was still raining next morning.
Sunday
Bad weather spoiled what should have been a different day with a streamlined J 1211 (Mainline Steam) bringing a steam special from Auckland. I got several shots in increasingly wet, windy and cold weather before returning to Auckland.
The drive takes about 50 minutes so in future, visiting Glenbrook for the day is quite possible when I have a car. I returned the rental car and watched the video. I had been worried that not using a tripod would make the footage unusable but not so. On return, I tried out the heaters in the apartment. Itās turned cool.
All in all, a very good 5-day event spoilt by the weather towards the end. I met lots of railfans and I expect to see many of them again. I might find myself helping out at Glenbrook on some Saturdays in future. They need volunteers especially as they are extending back to Waiuku 2.5 kms from the current end of the line. I also look forward to giving a video show for the Railway Enthusiasts Society in Auckland at some point.
Accommodation
I stayed with Sally and Tony at the Deveron Country Homestay. They made
me very welcome and their large house surrounded by orchards, gardens and bush
is probably the closest Bed and Breakfast to Glenbrook Station. You can
contact them at devmark@eudoramail.com
Please mention this website if you do.
A video is available of this event was produced. See top of page for how to enquire about a copy.
