Big, black, and hard to kill.

I recently had the good fortune to spend some time travelling with a 100 year old lady.

A Ww class tank engine built in New Zealand. I wonder how many cars and buses built in the same era still see this much action?

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Has been home to the Railway Enthusiasts Society since 1970.Work has continued for the last 40 years to find and preserve items of rail history, and the line has  stretched to a very pleasant 6km ride on the old Waiuku branch line, south of Auckland. A further extension to the town of Waiuku is currently being finished.

  

The volunteers who run the railway look fabulous in their traditional uniforms. Even the ladies in the refreshment rooms dress in costume!

With the obligatory toot on the whistle we leave Glenbrook Station tender first, with vintage wooden carriages in tow.

A rake of relatively young steel freight wagons lurk in the long grass.One day they'll be vintage too.............

6km down the line, we've reached the end [for now] of the line. Big piles of spare track are stacked alongside the passing loop ready for the 'big push' to Waiuku. The loco scurries round to the head of the train, and we're under way. Suddenly everything takes on a sepia tone....

We stop at the workshops for a bit of a look around. There are numerous pieces of train hardware patiently awaiting restoration, along with a second Ww loco.

Brooding in the back of the shed is Ja1250, a 108 tonne express loco, one of the last built for NZR. There are several of this class surviving, as they were still in regular service until 1971.

Back on the train for the climb back to Glenbrook.

 The 'little old lady' tank engine makes short work of the grade, showering the passengers

 who chose to ride in the open wagon with soot!

The station at Glenbrrook is a skillful mix of restored original station buildings, and

 sympathetic modifications to cope with the large numbers of visitors .

An enjoyable morning was had by all.