Picton’s mini rail has been a fixture of the foreshore since the 1960s, thrilling generations and offering a glimpse into the golden age of seaside fun.
A decline in volunteer numbers, however, is putting the attraction at increased risk of winding up.
Bob Metcalf, president of the Picton Society of Model Engineers, says the team only has a handful of active staff left to operate Rail and Sail – a result of elderly members passing on and difficulties recruiting younger helpers.
Entirely volunteer operated, a ride on the miniature steam-train only set passengers back 20 cents until recently, looping around a track that runs across the memorial park lawn and over the adjoining sailboat pond.
Without more hands, hours may have to be reduced to “perhaps one Sunday a month”, and they “may not be able to do the school holidays at all.”
“It would be a real shame” says Bob.
The demand for the attraction during summer remains high, he adds. Current hours are Sundays 11 – 3, with the addition of Wednesdays during the school holidays.
“We’d love to go back to all weekends and everyday during the school holidays.”
Recruiting “as many as we can get” is key to making sure local families and holidaymakers can continue to enjoy the ride, he adds.
When asked if the team still gets an enthusiastic response from children, Bob laughs “do we ever! They really enjoy it.”
“What’s funny is that you get parents coming here and saying ‘oh, I remember this when I was a kid. My nan used to bring me on the train’ and they bring their kids and so on.”
The team now takes donations from riders instead of the 20 cents fee that stood until a few years ago, mainly to avoid staff having to work out change, Bob explains.
Funds raised go towards upkeep, as well as to charities, with around $2000 divided between local organisations at the society’s last AGM.
For Steph Moore, Picton local and curator of Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum, the “little train” holds a special place and has even inspired five-year-old son George to want to be a train driver when he grows up.
“They’re so good with kids. If they are responsible enough, they’ll let them wave the flags or do some of the other jobs down there. It’s really neat and has become a favourite place for him.”
She says her grown-up nieces in Australia still recall holidays to Picton and fond memories of whizzing around the track.
“It’s such a lovely part of our foreshore and our community as well. It’s a real local thing to do. Come down, have a train ride, go on the merry go round, have an ice cream.
“It’d be a real loss if it weren’t there.”
Bob, a former KiwiRail driver and motor mechanic, is currently the society’s sole engineer and looks after the railway’s technical operations. The train presently runs on a motorised locomotive while the society’s steam engine undergoes rebuilding.
He stresses that volunteering is straightforward.
“All they need to do is drive with their station manager, two hours a shift,” by turning a dial that controls speed, he says.
“Everything else is taken care of. I just need bums on the seat.”
For more information, contact railandsailpicton@gmail.com
