Our History

Mainline Steam Heritage Trust originated in the early 1970’s, with Ian Welch and others determined to save J1211, a recently retired steam locomotive from scrap in Christchurch. On successfully acquiring the engine a shed was constructed in the old railway yards in Paekakariki to house this and other retired steam locomotives which is now the site of Steam Incorporated.

In 1974 a special train was run with J1211 in company of sister J1234 from Christchurch to Picton, then a second leg from Wellington to Palmerston North back to Parkakariki. The delivery of these two engines marked the beginning of the mainline steam preservation movement in New Zealand, as the recently built shed had a short length of it’s own track. J1211 was later joined by Ka945 and Wf386 from Taumarunui as well as Ka942 from Hutt Workshops. Continuing maintenance of J1211 kept the engine in order, able to be run only on private railways.

In early 1988 Nigel Welch, the son of Ian Welch, returned from a six-month overseas holiday to Europe and England where he observed and worked a number of preservation railway workshops in England. Full of enthusiasm, Nigel was keen to restore an engine to mainline condition and J1211 was chosen for overhaul to mainline condition. With the New Zealand Railways 125th Anniversary celebrations just around the corner, and the possibility of running the engine on the mainline, restoration was undertaken in Auckland.

Just one week before the Ferrymead 125 event in October, J1211 was fitted with new streamlined paneling and towed south to Christchurch. The day before it’s first mainline trip the engine was given a test-run from Christchurch to Rolleston and return pulling and string of diesel locomotives. In it’s first steaming since overhaul, the engine passed with flying colours and surprised both the public and railway enthusiasts alike, who had not expected to see 1211, let alone a streamlined J.

Mainline Steam currently has a depot in Plimmerton, Wellington and is in the process of developing a new depot at Mercer, south of Auckland.