HISTORY This award winning 24 inch (610 mm) gauge railway was established in 1985 by the Marlborough Historical Society. Track laying commenced in 1987.
1987 also saw the purchase of an A&G Price 6˝ tonne loco, ex the Ohai coal mines in Southland in a derelict state, from Horrell & Sons in Gore. This is powered by a six cylinder Leyland “Comet” engine, and the loco refurbishment was completed after countless manhours in 1989.
New air braked bogie carriages were designed and constructed in 1989 using components from the Lake Grassmere Salt Works.
The 5˝ tonne Ruston & Hornsby loco, “Murray”, powered by a three cylinder Lister engine was purchased in 1990 from Ashburton Car Club, having originated from the lime works in Milton. The loco restoration team was lead by the late Murray Guthrie, after whom the loco is named.
Blenheim Riverside Railway officially opened on Labour Weekend of 1990. Brayshaw Park Station, a scale replica of the 1914 Troup designed Picton Station was constructed in the mid 1990’s.
A replica Troup railway windmill was completed in 1994 by a team lead by the late Cliff White.
The mid 1990’s saw the design and construction of a Toyota diesel powered, double ended bogie railcar by member Gary Coburn, our chief engineer.
The railway has under restoration the ex-Puponga 0-4-0 steam loco called “Donald”.
The original second-hand timber sleepers were by now starting to deteriorate, so in 2001, founding member Lester Holdaway designed moulds and specifications, for the railway to make their own concrete sleepers. An ongoing programme to replace existing sleepers and any new line construction, with reinforced concrete sleepers is under way.
The line from Fulton Station was extended in 2005, under the supervision of ex-NZR Inspector of Permanent Way, George Walker, to Beaver Station in Riverside Park. Beaver Station was officially opened in a civic golden spike ceremony by Mayor Alistair Sowman, former mayor Leo McKendry, Lester Holdaway and George Walker on Saturday 22nd April 2006.
Brayshaw Park Station at the end of another busy day
