The Mainline Steam Heritage Trust is a New Zealand charitable trust devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways and overseas mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over railway lines throughout New Zealand. Excursions are operated by the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch branches.
About The Trust began in October 1988 after the Ferrymead 125 events in Christchurch. Based around the collection of steam locomotives that were privately owned by Ian Welch, the first of which had just begun operating on the mainline with J 1211 with an excursion to Timaru and Arthurs Pass double-heading with the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's JA 1250.
Depots operated by the Mainline Steam Trust included Parnell, (Auckland) Middleton and later Plimmerton. The Auckland depot used to be based in the former Parnell diesel depot. It was in the past the organisation's primary restoration base and most of Mainline Steam's currently active locomotives were restored there. It was closed in June 2015. Mainline Steam are developing a new depot at Mercer.
The Wellington depot, located at Plimmerton, is a purpose-built building that replaced the formerly leased Upper Hutt goods shed. It has now become the primary restoration base for the organisation. The depot in Christchurch is a former industrial building that used to be located at Studholme, it was relocated to land on the premises of CWF Hamilton. As of 2021, the trust was given notice to vacate the current Christchurch depot and is now building a new site at Midland Rail Heritage Trust's own lines and land in Springfield.
Mainline Steam is notable for having imported a number of African steam locomotives from South Africa and Zimbabwe (including a GMA/M Garratt), with more South African locomotives still overseas. It has also imported former British Rail Mark 2 carriages for use on its steam-hauled excursions and is in the process of overhauling them for New Zealand use. The organisation regularly operates excursions out of Auckland and Christchurch, the latter operating excursions primarily along the highly scenic Midland Line. Mainline Steam also has a number of diesel and electric locomotives in its care.
Heritage locomotives
Key:In service In service, Main Line-certified Under overhaul/RestorationStoredStatic displayScrapped Original Class and Number. Builder Builders Number Year built Arrived Current Depot Notes J 1211 North British Locomotive Works 24534 Plimmerton First ever Mainline Steam Locomotive, saved from scrap in 1982 and restored to mainline operation in 1988. Was stored at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway after the Parnell Depot closed down. Relocated to the Mainline Plimmerton Depot July 2025. KA 942 NZR Hutt Workshops 325/1940 Plimmerton Sits at Plimmerton in Storage, however still Mainline Capable, to move to Springfield once a new site is built. First KA to ever run a train in the South Island, Mainline Steam's second locomotive. Originally streamlined, however that was removed in briefly in the 1990s and 2010 and put back on within the next 2–3 years. JA 1240 NZR Hillside Workshops Plimmerton Stored at Plimmerton, to move to Springfield once a new site is built. JB 1236 North British Locomotive Works 24559 Plimmerton Started life as a J class locomotive, J 1236 and later converted in preservation to oil burning so became JB 1236. DJ 1229 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1229 Plimmerton Purchased with sister locomotive DJ 1228, restored to working condition. BA 552 NZR Addington Workshops 148 Mercer Stored awaiting restoration AB 663 NZGR Addington Workshops 188 Plimmerton Stored at Plimmerton Bagnall 1 WG Bagnall 2475 MOTAT Located at MOTAT's Western Springs Railway at the MOTAT 2, Meola Road Site. Until mid 2025, was used at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway as a locomotive for the railway's Day Out with Thomas events. JA 1275 North British Locomotive Works 27104 Mercer Stored JA 1267 NZR Hillside Workshops Mercer Currently in storage awaiting eventual overhaul K 911 NZR Hutt Workshops Plimmerton Used as stationary boiler at Hutt Workshops, with K 917 and K 921. Purchased by Ian Welch 1992. Currently located at Mainline Steam's Plimmerton Depot, awaiting restoration to working order. Will have a K-style funnel but a KA-style headlamp. BB 144 A & G Price Mercer Was under overhaul when the Parnell depot was closed KB 968 NZR Hillside Workshops Plimmerton Was under overhaul when the Christchurch depot was closed down. Still under overhaul, transported to Plimmerton in Wellington where work will continue until a shed is built at Springfield. New Zealand EW 1805 Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Plimmerton
Overseas locomotives In addition to their core fleet of New Zealand locomotives, Mainline Steam owns a number of ex-South African and Zimbabwean locomotives. Four are stored in South Africa at Bloemfontein. Several engines have been shipped to the Auckland and Wellington depots. It is anticipated that some will not be shipped to New Zealand, but remain in South Africa. The locomotives at Waterval Boven have reverted to the THF and are expected to be scrapped. Key:In service In service, Main Line-certified Under overhaul/RestorationStoredStatic displayScrapped Original Class and Number Builder Builders Number Year built Arrived Current Depot Notes 14A 509 Beyer, Peacock & Company 7582 Plimmerton Purchased from the National Railways of Zimbabwe by Unicem Zimbabwe in 1994 and reclassified as their No.2. Out of service by July 2000. Purchased by Ian Welch in 2001 it received a running gear overhaul in Bulawayo from 2002 to 2004. In 2004 after being tested in steam, it was moved to the Bulawayo Railway Museum for storage while shipping to New Zealand was arranged. It was then dismantled and arrived in Napier on 30 December 2007 with 19D 2695. In August 2014 it was confirmed that its restoration to main line operating condition would commence in September of that year. Due to be recommissioned after an extensive rebuild to meet New Zealand loading and rail gauge standards, conversion to air braking and oil firing, Tire turning, a full boiler examination and re-tube. It received a New Zealand boiler ticket in July 2017 but it has not yet steamed (February 2024) 15F 2976 Beyer, Peacock & Company 7092 After being withdrawn from the South African Railways it was placed into storage in Bloemfontein, South Africa. It was then sold to United Portland Cement. It was then on-sold to Ian Welch, restored to operating condition and is stored at Bloemfontein when not in use. 15F 2909 Henschel & Son 23932 Ex-South African Railways. Leased by Ian Welch in South Africa given a Loan agreement to Mainline Steam by Transnet, the Loco is stored at Waterval Boven Loco Depot and at present will remain in South Africa. . 15F 2985 Beyer, Peacock & Company 7100 Ex-South African Railways. Leased by Ian Welch in South Africa given a Loan agreement to Mainline Steam by Transnet, the Loco is stored at Waterval Boven Loco Depot at present will remain in South Africa. 15F 3153 North British 26037 Ex-South African Railways. Privately owned by Mainline Steam volunteer Grant Bradley in South Africa and stored at Epping Market now in increasingly poor condition from outdoor storage (2024) . 19D 2695 A. Borsig 14746 PlimmertonPurchased from the South African Railways by Unicem Zimbabwe and fitted with a Class 24 tender. It was then reclassified as their No.1. Purchased by Ian Welch in 2004 and moved to the Bulawayo Railway Museum where it was dismantled for shipping to New Zealand. Arrived in Napier on 30 December 2007 with 14A 509 and a Vanderbilt tender. Stored at Plimmerton. 19D 3332 North British 26052 Ex-South African Railways. Purchased by Ian Welch and overhauled to operating condition. Now leased to North Cape Central Railway (NCCR) and moved to Robertson for use on a Dinner train.(September 2024) 24 3620 North British 26332 Parnell Ex-South African Railways. Purchased by Ian Welch in 1994 from Spoornet via the Transnet Heritage Foundation. Overhauled by Spoornet at the Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot. Shipped to Auckland on 21 June 1996. Arrived at the Port of Auckland on 7 August of that year. Additional restoration commenced in early 1998 for the Kuranda Scenic Railway including conversion to oil firing. Work completed in late 2000, shipped to Cairns, Australia, on 23 January 2001. Entered service in 2004 but placed into storage in Cairns in 2006 due to a lack of hauling capacity which meant passenger numbers carried did not meet operating costs. Moved to Queenscliff near Melbourne, in January 2020 and is now in regular use on a dinner train.(2024) 24 3690 N/A N/A N/A N/A Stored in Bloemfontein, South Africa. 25NC 3432 Henschel & Son 28751 MercerEx-South African Railways. It was purchased by Ian Welch in 1994 from Spoornet via the Transnet Heritage Foundation. It was overhauled by Spoornet at the Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot and shipped to Auckland on 21 June 1996. It arrived at the port of Auckland on 7 August in that year. Too large to operate in New Zealand, it is awaiting fresh cosmetic restoration after tens years stored outside. 25NC 3476 North British 27336 Carries a Class 25NC Condenser Henschel Type EW2 Worshond tender, leased by Ian Welch in South Africa given a Loan agreement to Mainline Steam by TRANSnet, the Locomotive is stored at Waterval Boven Locomotive Depot to remain in South Africa. 25NC 3508 North British 27368 Mercer It entered South African Railways service in 1954 as 25 Cond. It was reclassified as 25NC 3508 in the 1970s. It was withdrawn from service in 1991 and purchased by Amcoal, Enyati Colliery Railway. It was later purchased by Ian Welch in 1993 and transferred to Princetown then shipped to Auckland on 21 June 1996. It arrived at the port of Auckland on 7 August in that year. Too large to operate in New Zealand, it awaits a fresh cosmetic restoration. GMAM 4056 Henschel & Son 28685 1954 Ex-South African Railways. Leased by Ian Welch in South Africa on a Loan agreement to Mainline Steam by Transnet, the Locomotive is stored at Waterval Boven Locomotive Depot to remain in South Africa.GMAM 4083 Beyer, Peacock & Company 7681 MercerEntered South African Railways service in 1956. Withdrawn in 1989 and sold to the Enyati Colliery Railway. It was then on-sold to Randfontein Estates Gold Mine and reclassified as R3. Purchased by Ian Welch in 1995 in operating condition, it was shipped to Auckland on 21 June 1996. It arrived in the port of Auckland on 7 August 1996. In September 1996 it was steamed for two open days at Parnell. Further work commenced with a conversion from a coal to oil fuel and the fabrication of a new air brake stand. This work was stalled due to the restoration of 24 class No. 3260 and no work has been done ever since that time because of the reality that it is too large for the New Zealand railway loading gauge. The locomotive actually comprises the front engine unit of GMA/M 4126, the rear engine unit of GMA/M 4088 and the boiler unit of GMA/M 4083. Garratt's because of the interchangeability of the engine units, by tradition carry the running number of the boiler cradle. GMAM 4135 North British 27787 1958 Ex-South African Railways. Initially sold to Reefsteamers, Germiston. It was then purchased by Ian Welch. In February 2011, it was moved to Hermanstad where it is stored by Friends of the Railway. In 2018, it was announced that the locomotive is for sale. Sold to Bernd Seiler / FarRail in June 2019. GMAM 4136 North British 27788 1958 Ex-South African Railways. Became Randfontein gold mine R12 "Barbara" and then traded back to the THF. Leased to Mainline Steam, New Zealand by the THF as 4136. In storage at Bloemfontein GMAM 4148 Henschel & Son 29607 1954 Ex-South African Railways. Purchased by Ian Welch, after a long period of storage, it was sold for scrap in 2011 and cut up at Reefsteamers in Germiston.
Rolling stock register