#PahiatuaRailcarSociety #RM31 #WhanganuiVintageWeekend RM 31 ran a series of short Excursions from Whanganui to East Town & Westmere during Whanganui Vintage Weekend in New Zealand. This video is made up of clips taken over two days.
RM 31 brought over a small group of Vintage Weekend attendees from Palmerston North at the beginning of each day and returned them back at the completion of the local excursions. Most of the local excursions ran on the hour from Whanganui's Taupo Quay Yard to East Town and return. There was a longer trip up to the Track Warrant Board at Westmere late afternoon on each day.
At 11:37 we see RM31 passing the derelect 1926 Kempthorne Prosser & Co Aramoho fertilizer works which was closed in the 1980's. RM31 is heading towards the 1/35 Westmere Bank. Near the End of the video, RM31 is roaring up the Matarawa Valley on its return to Palmerston North.
RM 31 Tokomaru is based with the Pahiatua Railcar Society. It was one of a class of six that were in service between 1938 and withdrawn in 1972. These railcars worked on the North Island's lower network including the Marton - New Plymouth Line.
The Whanganui Branch is a 5.00 km branch line railway that links Whanganui with the Marton - New Plymouth Line at Aramoho and has been in continuous operation since January 1878. The line lost its passengers services in September 1959
At the start of the video is DFB 7322 & DC 4692 hauling Train 565 which is a 20-wagon container freight service that is travelling from Castleclif to Wellington.
The inaugural Whanganui Heritage Weekend was held in March 2001. After a few good years, it eventually lost momentum. Influenced by the strong Vintage Car Club community and the success of the 2012 International VCC ralley hosted in Whanganui, the weekend was reborn with a refreshed focus and was rebranded as Whanganui Vintage Weekend.
Held on Wellington Anniversary long weekend in January each year, the weekend creates an atmosphere that reflects the many interests of the community. Vintage transport organisations, cultural groups, local retailers and entertainers all bring strong elements to the event set among the heritage buildings of this proud river town