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Waipara, New Zealand
Member of the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand
This is a historic rural railway using both vintage steam and diesel-electric
locomotives on 12.8 km of scenic line
through the unique limestone beauty of the Weka Pass out of Waipara where superior weather patterns provide crystal clear air and
high sunshine hours. The Weka Pass Railway is a totally voluntary organisation, whose members are dedicated to the preservation of New Zealand's rail
heritage. Initially the railway runs across flat farm land and passes a large irrigation reservoir and vineyards, before climbing grades as steep as l:50 ( 2% ) as it winds through the cuttings in the Pass. One can only marvel at the achievements of the workers who in the 1880's moved tons of clay and limestone by hand to form all the cuttings and large embankments. The Weka Pass section was completed in just over two years. The land was once under the sea and some of the surrounding limestone rocks have weathered into  unusual shapes. Must notable are Frog Rock and Seal Rock, in the middle of the Weka Pass. Sea shells and fossils may be seen in the walls of many cuttings. The line opened to Waikari in 1882 and extended to
Waiau by 1919. It was planned to extend the line to the West Coast, Nelson and Picton. However plans changed in the early part of this century and the main line now follows the coast to Picton. Regular passenger services were withdrawn in 1939 and the Waiau Branch closed
on January 18th 1978. The line to Waikari was purchased by the Weka Pass Railway
Inc. after the end of an union embargo in 1983.
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