Ticket to Ride

This tiny ticket is a memento from the 1967 New Plymouth Model Railways Diesel Excursion from New Plymouth to Opunake. The return trip by a Db class locomotive commemorated the construction of the Opunake Branch Railway in 1925. This line branched off the main Wellington-New Plymouth track at Te Roti and continued through to Opunake. It took nine years to construct at a cost of approximately £400,000 and included 12 bridges. The railway was primarily used to haul produce and supplies for the well-developed dairy land the line traversed.  

The 1967 Diesel Excursion was the first time a diesel-hauled train travelled the Opunake Branch Railway line. The excursion was also the first time a passenger train had travelled the route since 1936. During the journey numerous photo stops were made. The most eventful of these was near the Waingongoro River rail bridge, when some camera enthusiasts had to dash to the safety of the train when a group of bulls took a dislike to the excursion organiser Cranley Julian. At Opunake 295 people departed the train to see the film Von Ryan’s Express at the Everybody’s Theatre. The excursion arrived promptly back in New Plymouth at 5pm.