Rm 31 | South Island Rail Tour - March 2024 (HD)

During March 2024, the Pahiatua Railcar Society in conjunction with Australian tour company, named Insights Tours, ran a rail tour across the South Island with standard railcar Rm 31 'Tokomaru'. This was the very first time in New Zealand railway history that a standard railcar has travelled over the South Island rail network, as they operated in the North Island during NZR service. Rm 31 travelled from Picton to Christchurch then up to Waikari on the Weka Pass Railway, before meeting with South Island Vulcan railcar cousins Rm's 51 & 56, for the very first time at the Canterbury Railway Society in Ferrymead. The railcar also traveled over the world famous Midland Line to Arthur's Pass, before heading south to Dunedin and Invercargill, then back north to Picton and eventually home to Pahiatua. Our video captures some of the main highlights of this major milestone for the Pahiatua Railcar Society, as the 1938 railcar traverses new and unfamiliar territory on both South Island mainlines and preserved heritage railways - enjoy!