Project Steam

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Project Steam is a railway preservation society based in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is dedicated to the restoration of steam locomotives formerly operated by the New Zealand Railways Department, with its goal to restore at least one locomotive to main line operating conditions in order to operate excursions from Dunedin Railway Station. The society is currently the only one of its kind in Dunedin; the Ocean Beach Railway operates small tank locomotives but on private trackage, and the popular Taieri Gorge Limited is run solely by diesel locomotives.

The restoration of P 107, also using some parts from the remains of P 25, is currently the focus of Project Steam's efforts. The two locomotives were built in 1885 by Nasmyth Wilson and Company, entered service in 1887, were withdrawn in 1928, and on 8 August 1932 were dumped in the Clutha River near Beaumont to protect the Roxburgh Branch from erosion. Their remains were recovered in May 1992, and as the frame of P 107 was in a better condition, it was chosen for restoration, with extra parts sourced from P 25, most notably its wheels, which were in better condition to P 107's.

During the celebration of the Dunedin Railway Station's centennary in October 2006, P 107 was displayed in partially rebuilt condition at the station. Funds are currently being raised for the next and most costly stage of the restoration, the reconstruction of P 107's boiler. The restoration is historically significant as the locomotive is one of, if not the earliest known surviving example of a British-built 2-8-0. Once fully restored, there are proposals to establish a regular service run by P 107 as a tourist attraction, such as a service modelled on the Kingston Flyer. It would run over the preserved track of the Otago Central Railway between Pukerangi and Middlemarch, connecting with the Taieri Gorge Railway's daily diesel-hauled services between Dunedin and Pukerangi.

[edit] References

• Tim McKinlay, "Hopes Raised for Steam Engine", Otago Daily Times, October 2006.
• Official page of Project Steam

v • d • e New Zealand railway heritage and preservation groups
Upper North Island	Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Bush Tramway Club, Driving Creek Railway, Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Goldfields Railway, Mainline Steam, Museum of Transport and Technology, Railway Enthusiasts Society
Lower North Island	Feilding and District Steam Rail Society, Fell Engine Museum, Gisborne City Vintage Railway, New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, Ormondville Rail Preservation Society, Paekakariki Station Precinct Trust, Pahiatua Railcar Society, Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust, Silver Stream Railway, Steam Incorporated, SteamRail Wanganui, Waitara Railway Preservation Society, Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust, Wellington Tramway Museum
South Island	Canterbury Railway Society, Diesel Traction Group, Ferrymead Railway, Kingston Flyer, Ocean Beach Railway, Ohai Railway Board, Plains Vintage Railway, Pleasant Point Museum and Railway, Project Steam, Taieri Gorge Railway (inc. Otago Excursion Train Trust), Weka Pass Railway, West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society (inc. Shantytown), Westport Railway Preservation Society