Our History

The story of the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust began in the early 1970s, when Ian Welch and a small group of dedicated enthusiasts set out to save steam locomotive J1211 from being scrapped in Christchurch. After successfully acquiring the locomotive, the group constructed a shed in the former railway yards at Paekakariki to house J1211 and other retired steam engines. This site would later become home to Steam Incorporated.

In 1974, a special train featuring J1211 and sister locomotive J1234 travelled from Christchurch to Picton, followed by a second leg from Wellington to Palmerston North and back to Paekakariki. The arrival of these two locomotives marked a turning point in New Zealand’s rail preservation movement. With a newly built shed and a short length of private track, the foundations of mainline steam preservation were firmly laid. Over time, J1211 was joined by Ka 945, Wf 386 from Taumarunui, and Ka 942 from the Hutt Workshops. Ongoing maintenance kept J1211 operational, though limited to private railways.

A new chapter began in 1988 when Nigel Welch, son of founder Ian Welch, returned from six months in Europe and the UK, where he had worked in several heritage railway workshops. Inspired by what he had seen, Nigel was determined to return a locomotive to full mainline condition. J1211 was selected for restoration, and work began in Auckland in anticipation of the upcoming New Zealand Railways 125th Anniversary celebrations.

Just one week before the Ferrymead 125 event in October, J1211 was fitted with new streamlined casing and towed to Christchurch. The day before its first mainline outing, the locomotive completed a successful test run from Christchurch to Rolleston hauling a string of diesel locomotives. In its first steaming since overhaul, J1211 exceeded expectations—delighting the public and surprising enthusiasts who had not anticipated the return of a streamlined J-class locomotive.

Today, Mainline Steam continues this legacy of preservation and restoration. The Trust operates from its Wellington depot in Plimmerton and is actively developing a new purpose-built depot at Mercer, south of Auckland. These facilities support our ongoing mission to restore, maintain, and operate New Zealand’s historic mainline steam locomotives for future generations to enjoy.