THE WAY WE WERE - N Z R TRAINS

Featuring Paul Holmes, David Leitch, and Merv Smith with vintage railway footage from the National Film Unit

[@davehall44]

NZR crockery was in a class of its own. Never seen anything so heavy duty since!

[@tonymorgan9240]

YEP TAURAMANUI WAS THE MAIN STOP FOR A CUP OF TEA AND PIES

[@robertraikes9409]

My Grandfather was a steam train driver named Frank Houten who also got to drive the railcar , he was based in Woodville but he sadly died from lung cancer, they say he got it from driving the coal fired steam trains through the tunnels. I remember Grandad letting me try to shovel some coal into the boiler, when I was lucky enough to ride up front with him. My father Les Raikes was station master in National Park in the late 60's and a over night railcar service from Auckland to Wellinton called the "Blue Streak" used to pass through.

[@BigAmp]

Paul Holmes and Merv Smith both sadly no longer with us.

[@TNZvideos]

Awesome watch. Thanks for uploading!

[@simonf8902]

Amazing a country with a small population could achieve so much.

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏🙏🙏🙏 Priceless

[@ronsurgenor745]

Yes, thought it was well worth sharing.

[@RatelHBadger]

Would love to see the full documentary, without the sudden jump cuts about the place.

[@sw6188]

Me too. This was a documentary series produced by TVNZ. They'll still have it in their archives but it would cost a fortune to get a copy. Hopefully someone has the full, un-edited cut that they can upload.

[@RatelHBadger]

@@sw6188 there will be some enthusiast who has recorded it onto VHS from the TV. Paul Holmes looks so young!

[@sw6188]

@@RatelHBadger Yes, someone will have it. Now it's just a matter of finding them!

[@RatelHBadger]

@@sw6188 my grandfather used to tape everything locomotive related from the TV back in the day. I wonder if my folks have any of his old tapes in a box somewhere.

[@sw6188]

@@RatelHBadger See what you can find. If you need it to be digitized from VHS (or any other format) just reply to me as I have the gear set up and ready to go.

[@johnfreeborn979]

Not much of a mention of the feats of the electric rail through the tunnel and longest tunnel in the British Empire in the Otira tunnel at that time.

[@RatelHBadger]

5:47 is Bill Rumble not the best name for an engine driver?

[@aklrailfan2278]

19:13

[@woodliceworm4565]

Don't forget the Silver Star was full of blue asbestos- maybe it's better in Malaysia.