Restoration Projects

We acquired Tr38 from the Shantytown Railway in 1977.

History of Tr38
Railways Career: Tr38 was built by A&G Price, during the 1938/39 period. After its original construction, it serviced the Auckland area as a light diesel shunter. Having no air brakes (and never being fitted with any since), as wagons got heavier and trains got longer, this shunter was later outmatched in terms of horsepower and stopping capability. After it’s service, during the early 1960’s it was transferred to the NZR Ways & Works Department, where it was used on work trains for maintenance and repair works. As time caught up with it, Tr38 was later sold to the Shantytown Railway.

After NZR: In 1974, Shantytown Railway purchased Tr38 from the NZR, who owned it from ’74 to ’77. It was used on a few work trains during it’s time there but was quickly outmatched with other locomotives coming to their site, before being purchased by the Ashburton Railway & Preservation Society.

The Plains Railway: After purchase by The Plains Railway (ARPS), it was the only internal combustion locomotive on site, and was quickly put to work on various duties by the Society – even hauling the rare passenger service on short notice. However, since it’s NZR days the motor had required work, and the locomotive became more difficult to start as years went by. After taking the addition of a Ruston 48DS at the Plains Railway, during the early 2000’s this shunter was removed from service, where it has sat unused until mid-2025 when member Jakob requested permission to begin its restoration to running order.

Restoration: After permission for the restoration process was approved, Jakob & Jesse spent hours trialing various different attempts and methods to get the engine running again. With help from Dave, Tr38 was started under tow and moved under its own power for the first time in 25 years. However, noticing various issues has required an overhaul.
Currently Tr38 is planned to have a major restoration, which includes a full cosmetic overhaul, drivetrain overhaul and electrical overhaul.
If you’d like to donate to this project, you can help us by donating to our givealittle page at; https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/nzs-oldest-diesel-locomotive

Aa 1024 is a long term restoration project at The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum, with restoration starting in late 2008 the carriage has been steadily progressing towards returning to service at our museum.
Aa 1024 dates from the year of the first North Island Main Trunk express trains, 1908 and is one of only a small handful of Aa class passenger carriages to be relocated to the South Island by the New Zealand Railways, it is also the last survivor of of its type to retain the centre toilets making it something quite special.

The interior restoration of the carriage has seen its unusual tongue and groove ceiling (most car ceilings were of pressed steel panels) stripped of its many layers of paint and repainted, the fresh white giving the interior a much brighter appearance than the smoke-stained white of before. Work is currently focussed on removing the many layers of paint from the exterior to enable repainting – which has revealed areas painted in the original, 1908 applied, ‘Pullman Green’ livery and a shorter-lived shade of green that is much lighter than pullman green.

The Rural History Section have projects underway – from Tractor restoration to Stationary Engines, to general tidying and ensuring the exhibits look their best for an Open Day.  Visit on a Saturday morning or an Open Day, new members are always welcome.