All aboard the Candlelight Express
It may be cold this winter, but that hasn’t stopped families jumping aboard the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society’s first luminous expedition.
The volunteer group lit up its 139-year-old locomotive to haul the Candlelight Express, decorated with strings of bright lights, and offered rides around its yard in Feilding.
What it didn’t anticipate was the frenzy of families eager to get aboard, prompting it to extend the initial two night experience to four nights across two weekends.
The first weekend drew 1100 patrons, while the second week sold 1400 tickets across five trips.
Organiser Stuart Anderson said the group may repeat the event next year, but perhaps with more lights.
‘‘It’s been a huge success, which is good, and we put a lot of hours into it.’’
Visitors entered through a ‘‘magical’’ tunnel and were greeted with the sparkle of the locomotive and its carriages. They were then transported to a ‘‘mid-winter wonderland’’ as the train made its way around the yard.
Melanie Hughes said the old carriages looked beautiful in the glowing light, making it a fun experience for the entire family.
She took her 3-year-old son, Lucas Leckie.
‘‘It was quite cool how they did it and just long enough so the kids didn’t get bored.
‘‘Even us adults had a good time.
‘‘Everyone on the train seemed to. Lucas especially loved when they made it ‘toot toot’ – his words.’’
The event raised funds to strip down the train’s engine and check its parts.