Old Locomotive's Final Move

"Wa" 165, the 35-ton veteran locomotive of the Motuhora branch line, made its final move recently when it was transported from the railway yards west of Grey Street to its eternal resting place in Alfred Cox Park.

Purchased over a year ago by the Gisborne Jaycees, the old locomotive has been scraped down and painted a colourful red with yellow trimmings.

Monk Bros. Ltd., who undertook the task of moving the cumbersome old-timer, used a 26-wheel heavy-duty road transporter to carry it the several hundred yards required. Loading and unloading the engine onto the transporter appeared to be a formidable proposition, but with the use of two mobile cranes and a power winch, it was accomplished with no serious mishaps.

The road transporter, with its novel load of locomotive, caused minor traffic congestion as it moved slowly up Grey Street

The back of the road transporter moves slowly under the front of the locomotive, lifted in the air by the two mobile cranes

The scene of operations in the railway yards with the engine half on the transporter

The road transporter, dwarfed by its mighty load, commencing its journey. The locomotive was welded and chained to the set of rails and girders secured to the trailer for the short trip

The locomotive moving down a set of temporary rails across the Grey Street footpath from the back of the transporter to its position in Alfred Cox Park

The men who did the job. From left: John Hart, Phil Hatwell, Tom King, John Monk, and Ron Furmage

Within minutes of the job's completion, delighted children were swarming over the locomotive.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 97 : July 12, 1962

Old Locomotive's Final Move