By Dan Parker
Wellington's English Electric trains have made their final scheduled trip, 74 years after they began operating.
The trains were retired on the same day that a new service started between Auckland and the capital.
Pulling out of Wellington for the last time one of the old English Electrics bid farewell to a city it's served since 1938.
On board the last service was a passenger who rode the very first. Gretta Beck made the journey as a seven year old with her father. But she's celebrating rather than commiserating.
“I mean these trains are lovely, but the new ones are wonderful. The new Matangi and it’s progress, we progress, life progresses.”
Today also saw progress in Auckland with the introduction of a new Northern Explorer replacing the Overlander and its aging carriages running to and from Wellington.
Kiwirail chief executive Jim Quinn says the changes have been a long time coming
“It’s way overdue, that's running assets as long as they could. They were obviously well built and they have lasted very well.”
But some of them may not last much longer.
A couple of the old English electrics will be restored and put in museums, but many of the 16 remaining cars will be sold as scrap.
Rail enthusiasts can stop that from happening by buying them on Trade Me, and one man is willing to pay $30,000.
“We have plans to obtain the set and keep it in operational condition and eventually return it to the main line,” rail enthusiast Rob Riley says.
But that would be for the odd cameo - the English Electric days as a workhorse are done.
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