Mainline Steam Heritage Trust

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Mainline Steam Heritage Trust New Zealands premium mainline steam experience. Dedicated to restoring and running heritage steam locomotives on New Zealands mainline network.

mainlinesteam.co.nz Restoring and operating steam locomotives.

🎃 HALLOWEEN STEAM EXPRESS UPDATE: TICKETS ARE FLYING! 🚂👻Families are loving the Halloween Steam Express departing from W...
24/10/2026

🎃 HALLOWEEN STEAM EXPRESS UPDATE: TICKETS ARE FLYING! 🚂👻

Families are loving the Halloween Steam Express departing from Wellington Railway Station, and seats are vanishing fast!

If you are planning a fun family outing with the kids, here is the current availability for our three departures:

🚫 12:15 PM Shuttle: SOLD OUT!
⚠️ 2:15 PM Shuttle: LIMITED SEATS REMAINING!
✨ 5:45 PM Shuttle: PLENTY OF SEATS AVAILABLE!

Trade the everyday routine for an awesome family day out! Dress up in your favourite spooky costumes and join us for roaring steam, open air viewing platforms, breathtaking coastal scenery, and delicious family friendly snacks in our café carriage!

👇 Tap the link below to snag your family's seats before the whole train sells out!

https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/mainlinesteamheritagetrust/items/760086/calendar/2026/09/?language=en-gb&full-items=yes&back=https://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/

Way Back Wednesday: This time we do go way back. In fact back to Frankton in 1959 where this David Sims photo perfectly ...
13/10/2026

Way Back Wednesday: This time we do go way back. In fact back to Frankton in 1959 where this David Sims photo perfectly captures the grime and labour involved in the operation of steam locomotives. The locomotive is Bb144, which Les Hostick was later to preserve and is now in the Mainline Steam collection.

Our December date completely filled up, so we’ve unlocked one final trip on Saturday 28th November! Bonus: Being a Satur...
13/10/2026

Our December date completely filled up, so we’ve unlocked one final trip on Saturday 28th November! Bonus: Being a Saturday, you can sink a few cold ones without worrying about a work hangover the next day! 🍻😉

Climb aboard The Christmas Tui Express from Plimmerton, Paraparaumu, Ōtaki, Levin or Palmerston North for the ultimate end-of-year party:

🥂 Travel on our climate-controlled train with panoramic windows & open-air platforms

🌿 Take in rail-only views through the Manawatū Gorge
🎄 Head straight to the iconic Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka
🍗 Tuck into a festive Christmas BBQ buffet lunch
🍺 Sip a complimentary Tui b**r, c***r, or non-alcoholic drink
📘 Score special venue discounts with your included Tui Passport

🎟️ Adults from $152 | Children $99 (Includes return train, BBQ lunch, drink & Tui Passport)

👥 Group discounts available!

Don't miss out twice! Grab your crew and lock in your seats before this one sells out too! 🎅🚂🍺

👉 Book now: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/mainlinesteamheritagetrust/items/759402/calendar/2026/10/?flow=1464460&language=en-gb&full-items=yes&back=https://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/

📧 Group bookings: [email protected]

🚂🎃 Your affordable family adventure, sorted!Leave the broomstick at home and join us on our Halloween Steam Express! Sat...
11/10/2026

🚂🎃 Your affordable family adventure, sorted!

Leave the broomstick at home and join us on our Halloween Steam Express! Saturday 31st October only!

If you’ve never ridden a steam train, now is your chance! Sit back and enjoy an affordable, family-friendly journey along the coast to Plimmerton and back aboard our heritage steam train. Perfect for kids of all ages. 🎃✨

Board our steam train at Wellington for a great, budget-friendly day out! ✅

🎟️ Book your seats at - https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/mainlinesteamheritagetrust/items/760086/calendar/2026/09/?language=en-gb&full-items=yes&back=https://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/

⚠️ TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST! 🎃🚂✨Seats for our Halloween Steam Express are disappearing quickly! Don't miss out on taking...
01/10/2026

⚠️ TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST! 🎃🚂✨

Seats for our Halloween Steam Express are disappearing quickly! Don't miss out on taking the family for a magical ride along the scenic Porirua Harbour coast from Wellington to Plimmerton and back.

Dust off your best family costumes, enjoy onboard trick-or-treating, step out onto the open-air viewing platforms, and grab delicious treats from our café carriage!

⏰ 3 FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHUTTLE TIMES:
🎃 12:15 PM – Midday fun (Great for little ones!)
🎃 2:15 PM – Afternoon coastal scenic loop
🎃 5:45 PM – Early twilight sunset express

🎟️ Limited seats remaining across all departures! Secure your spots today before they sell out completely: 👇

https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/mainlinesteamheritagetrust/items/760086/calendar/2026/09/?full-items=yes&back=https://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/

🎃 ALL ABOARD HALLOWEEN STEAM! 🚂👻Departing directly from Wellington Railway Station, ride a genuine heritage steam train ...
23/09/2026

🎃 ALL ABOARD HALLOWEEN STEAM! 🚂👻

Departing directly from Wellington Railway Station, ride a genuine heritage steam train along the scenic Porirua Harbour coast to Plimmerton and back!

Dress up the family and enjoy onboard trick or treats, a Best Dressed contest, open air viewing platforms, and refreshments from our café carriage!

⏰ 3 SHUTTLE TIMES:
🌕 12:15 PM (Midday fun for younger kids)
🌕 2:15 PM (Afternoon coastal loop)
🌕 5:45 PM (Twilight sunset express)

🎟️ Seats are strictly limited! Tap the link below to grab your tickets before they vanish! 👇

https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/mainlinesteamheritagetrust/items/760086/calendar/2026/09/?full-items=yes&back=https://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/

🌸🚂 Thank you, Hawke’s Bay!What a fantastic day bringing the Bay Express back to Hawke’s Bay for the first time since 201...
20/09/2026

🌸🚂 Thank you, Hawke’s Bay!

What a fantastic day bringing the Bay Express back to Hawke’s Bay for the first time since 2018!

We hope you enjoyed the Blossom Festival, and for those who joined us at Trinity Hill Vineyard, we hope you enjoyed the good w**e, beautiful surroundings and chill vibes. 🍷🌿

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, and especially our drivers, crew and volunteers who made the day possible. ❤️

And the exciting news… the Bay Express Blossom Festival Special is coming back to Hawke’s Bay in 2027! 🎉🚂

We’d love to hear what you’d like to see next year. More time at the festival? Another vineyard? A new destination or activity?

Tell us what you’d love to see in 2027! 👇

We can’t wait to be back! 🌸🚂

🌊 HAWKE'S BAY HERE WE COME! 🌊Tomorrow, the tracks lead east as we bring the Bay Express out for a spectacular run to Has...
17/09/2026

🌊 HAWKE'S BAY HERE WE COME! 🌊

Tomorrow, the tracks lead east as we bring the Bay Express out for a spectacular run to Hastings. We are absolutely thrilled to have the Mainline Steam fleet back out on the rails for this iconic journey.

We will be winding our way through the stunning landscapes of the Manawatū, tracking past the spectacular scenery of the gorge before opening up into the beautiful rolling hills of the Hawke's Bay countryside.

🌸 Important note for passengers: Because of road closures in town for the Hastings Blossom Festival, there will be a short walk from the train to the coach transfer for those heading to Trinity Hill. For everyone heading along to the Blossom Festival, have a fantastic time and enjoy the festivities!

📸 Calling all photographers: If you are planning to catch a glimpse of us passing through, we would love to share the journey with you. Please share your favorite shots and videos in the comments below!

⚠️ STAY SAFE TRACKSIDE ⚠️
We need your help to keep this a safe and successful day out. If you are watching or photographing the train, please keep a safe distance from the tracks. No photo is worth the risk.

Huge thanks to our dedicated volunteers and to everyone supporting Mainline Steam in keeping this history alive.

Who is planning to see us tomorrow? Let us know your viewing spots below! 👇❤️

BLOSSOM FESTIVAL SPECIAL 🌸For many years, the arrival of spring in Hawke’s Bay was marked by the annual Blossom Festival...
15/09/2026

BLOSSOM FESTIVAL SPECIAL 🌸

For many years, the arrival of spring in Hawke’s Bay was marked by the annual Blossom Festival, with New Zealand Railways operating special trains bringing visitors to Hastings for the celebrations.

These trains became a familiar part of the festival and of Hawke’s Bay’s railway story.

This Saturday, 19 September 2026, Mainline Steam is proud to bring the Blossom Festival Special back to the rails.

Supporting local communities is an important part of what we do. By bringing passengers into the region by rail, we’re proud to support the Blossom Festival, local businesses, hospitality, tourism and the many people who make events like this possible.

It’s wonderful to see a familiar name return to the railway, and to once again have a train playing its part in the community.

09/09/2026

Our latest newsletter is available to view at this link.

Address

91B St Andrews Road
Plimmerton
5026

Telephone

+6442338131

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