Steam Incorporated facts for kids

Steam Incorporated, often called Steam Inc., is a group that loves and works to save old trains. They are based at the Paekakariki railway station in Paekakariki, which is on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand's North Island. Unlike some groups that run trains on special, old tracks, Steam Inc. has its own workshop, called "The Engine Shed." This shed is right next to one of New Zealand's most important railway lines, the North Island Main Trunk Railway. Steam Inc. fixes up old locomotives (train engines) and rolling stock (carriages and wagons) so they can be used for fun trips on the country's main train lines.

The Story of the Paekakariki Train Shed

Paekakariki became important for trains way back in 1886. This was when the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company opened its line from Wellington to Longburn. The Paekakariki railway station was a big station, even though the town was small. It was a perfect spot for trains to change engines. Strong engines were needed for the tough hills between Wellington and Paekakariki. Lighter engines were better for the flatter tracks through the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua.

In 1908, the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) took over the railway. But Paekakariki stayed an important train hub. In 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekakariki got electric power. This meant Paekakariki became the place where electric trains switched to steam engines. Later, they switched to diesel engines.

During World War II, a large shed was built at Paekakariki by U.S. Marines. This was for a "Rail Air" service that moved goods. In the late 1960s, steam trains stopped being used. The train depot in Paekakariki closed. The main engine shed was taken down. But the old Rail Air Shed, two signal boxes, a building for staff, and a turntable (a spinning platform for turning engines around) stayed. Steam Inc. later bought this whole area. They built new sheds to replace the ones that were taken down.

About Steam Incorporated

When steam trains started to disappear from New Zealand's railway lines, a group of train fans decided to save them. Their big idea was to run these old steam engines on the main railway network. At that time, most preserved trains were only used on special heritage lines or just displayed. The NZR usually sold old trains with the rule that they could never run on the main lines again. So, Steam Incorporated's idea was very new and bold!

The group was formed, and they bought locomotives for the society. Some members also bought trains for the group to use.

Locomotives: The Engines of Steam Inc.

Steam Inc. has many different types of locomotives. Some are steam engines, and some are diesel engines. They work hard to keep these old giants running. Here's a look at some of the engines they have:

Steam Inc. has also stored or helped with other famous locomotives, like J 1211 and K^A 942, which now belong to Mainline Steam.

Rolling Stock: Carriages and Vans

Steam Incorporated has one of the biggest collections of old passenger carriages in New Zealand. These carriages are special because they are allowed to run on the main national railway lines.

The carriages were first painted in a unique chocolate brown color. This helped people tell them apart from regular trains. But the paint faded, so Steam Inc. changed them to "Midland Red." This red color was used for most passenger carriages in New Zealand since the 1920s.

Steam Inc. has different types of carriages. They have five wide, wooden carriages from the early 1900s. In 2008, these were painted "Pullman Green" for a special celebration. They also have many steel-covered carriages. One of these has been changed into a buffet and souvenir car, where you can buy food and gifts. They have twelve carriages that are fully fixed up and ready for main line trips.

Besides passenger carriages, the group also owns guards vans and old goods wagons. Some of these are used to carry supplies for the locomotives on trips.

Carriages

Guards Vans

Guards vans are special wagons where the train guard rides. They also carry important equipment.

Excursions: Fun Train Trips

Steam Incorporated has run train trips to almost every part of New Zealand's main railway network since the late 1970s. They were one of the first groups to have their own passenger carriages. They started running trips in 1978.

At first, the railway company wouldn't let heritage groups use their own engines on the main lines. So, Steam Inc. could only use their engines around their depot. But since 1985, this rule changed. Now, Steam Inc. uses its own steam and diesel engines for most of their trips.

Some popular trips have been through the middle of the North Island. They also have yearly "Art Deco" trips to Napier. They even went to the 100-year celebrations at Dunedin railway station in 2006, and at Feilding in 2008.

Sometimes, Steam Inc. crews run the trips using their own equipment. Other times, they work with other train preservation groups. For example, they've had "double drivers" trips with two K^A class locomotives pulling the train.

Some of Steam Inc.'s most famous trips include:

• In 1993, their K^A 945 engine and carriages toured New Zealand for three weeks on the "Crunchie Train."
• In 2008, Steam Inc. ran the special Parliamentary Centennial train. This train celebrated 100 years of the North Island Main Trunk railway. They mostly used Steam Inc. carriages and a mix of their own and other certified engines.

Locomotives Ja 1271 and Ab 608 pulling historic carriages on Steam Inc's 2015 "Double Thunder" excursion