Welcome to the Home of WA165

Wa165 is the only remaining Wa class steam locomotive ion the world. It was built in the Hillside workshops in Dunedin (New Zealand) in 1897.

Wa165 was the ideal locomotive for the heavily graded (climbing/descending) railway line between Gisborne and Motuhora where it spent most of its working life.

Our Excursions

Our 2024-2025 excursions to Muriwai are underway. Go to the Timetable & Bookings Page for full details.

We will endeavour to use the scheduled locomotive on a particular excursion, but there may be times when for operational reasons we have to change to the other locomotive without any notice. Our two locomotives are the 1897 built steam engine Wa165 and our 1967 built Diesel-Electric Locomotive DSC2759. The locomotive scheduled to be used on a particular excursion is listed on our Timetable & Bookings Page. 

Our excursions currently run between Gisborne and Muriwai. One of our carriages was built in 1936 and has been restored to original condition, complete with the roll-over seating to change the direction of travel. All of the other carriages are fully air conditioned to keep you cool.

The journey encompasses some unique features such as crossing the main Gisborne airport runway (the only train in the world to cross the main runway of a fully operational airport, so watch out for aircraft) and also crossing the Waipaoa river bridge (the longest river bridge in the North Island). The excursion also gives you a unique showcase of the stunning seascape of Poverty Bay with Young Nick's Head in the background, as well as our world famous fertile agriculture landscape.

For the latest information on our excursions, see our Timetable & Bookings Page.

Our Supporters.

Thanks again to Solenis New Zealand for their continuing support and also to the Senator Motor Inn here in Gisborne.

Special Charters

Wa165 is also available for special charters such as the Chardonnay Express. Read a review of the 2019 Chardonnay Express - A Gisborne Wine Festival Event

For more details on special charters, please contact us.

Membership Sign Up

Sign up to be a Member of our Society and receive our newsletter with the latest and greatest news about what is happening with our train and upcoming rides. $20 per annum or $30 per family and receive the newsletter free.