1 / 2Mainline Steam Trust
📍 Plimmerton, Wellington
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust at 91B Saint Andrews Road, Plimmerton, operates historic steam train excursions on New Zealand's national rail network. Restored locomotives, friendly volunteer crew, and the Wellington depot is free to visit.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
"Crossing the viaducts was truly spectacular - our family members visiting from Scotland had a wonderful time." - Susan Hayworth. "A fabulous experience - I would do it again in a heartbeat. A huge thank you to all the volunteers." - Marina Collott
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →10 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Kim O'Donnell
4 weeks ago
“Awesome day, well planned and really comfortable carriages / seats with tables between each set of seats too! We did the Tui brewery trip, they kept to schedule, kept us well informed about stops and breaks and provided exceptional customer service throughout. Big shoutout to Asue (sorry if I got spelling wrong!) who looked after us in carriage F. They also provided great info and were super fast at replying to emails when I had some questions before the trip. Highly recommend!”
Heather Knewstubb
8 months ago
“We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip from Otaki to Taihape on the journey pulled by the historic DJ 1229 engine. The train was in pristine condition throughout, staff were friendly and attentive and the buffet car had a great selection of food and hot/cold drinks at reasonable prices. We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to get out and take photos. A great day - highly recommended!”
Leanne Hein
3 months ago
“Superb trip. The experience was beyond words, well organised, and well worth it. We enjoyed the commentary, including the regular rugby updates. The crew were lovely too and checked up on us at regular intervals. It's well worth it.”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsTrip
5 reviews
Volunteers
3 reviews
Carriages
2 reviews
Trains
2 reviews
Food selection
2 reviews
Overview
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust has preserved New Zealand's heritage steam locomotives since the early 1970s. The Wellington depot at Plimmerton holds a collection of restored engines and rolling stock, open to visit for free. Excursions run on the national rail network from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch depots - including the route to Taihape crossing spectacular viaducts. Trains are in pristine condition. A buffet car provides food and drinks during journeys.
