MS Ja 1275Hoteo Hoteo

Oil fired JA 1275 was built by North British, Glasgow and entered service in 1952. It was bought in 1967 and stored at Te Awamutu Railway Museum until 1994 when it was leased to Ian Welch and Mainline Steam Heritage Trust. After restoration 1275 returned to the main line rails in 2004. The hired Tranz Scenic cars have since been withdrawn so excursions such as this have become a rarity. This Northlander excursion was a day each way Auckland to Whangarei return along this rustic 200 Km long line through rugged terrain. The train has just emerged from one of 13 tunnels on the line.