All aboard the night train.
For the first time in memory the South Canterbury Model Engineers Inc. will be opening its gates to the public at night.
The club was due for a health and safety audit which coincided with a group visiting from Christchurch and Blenheim.
Club member Trevor Kissell said they told him they were coming down on Saturday night, so proposed the idea of a night run.
‘‘As far as I can recall this club has never hosted one.’’
Located on the corner of Rose and Catherine Sts, they will be running on Saturday from 6pm to 8pm, with each ride costing $2.
Mr Kissell said the reaction from the public had been sensational.
‘‘People have been saying ‘yeah yeah let’s get down there’ because we haven’t done it before. They’ve been really supportive.’’
The club was formed in 1934, making it the second oldest in the country. At present the club sits at around 48 members and primarily is member funded. Alongside that earned from running birthday parties, the money gained from the night run will be used for maintenance and to keep the club running.
Club member Brian Rhodes said what he enjoyed most about the hobby was the thrill and joy it gave gave people, especially children.
‘‘The oldest kid we’ve had on the back was 90 years young and the smile on their face was priceless, worth a million dollars.’’
Mr Rhodes said that the model trains behaved exactly the same as a fullsize engine, and they had do driver tests and safety checks. He said with steam engine models you even had to worry about fuelling them with coal, being mindful of water management and keeping an eye on what was going on behind you.
Train 256, one of the model trains at the club, was built in 1960 as a club project where every member took a part home, machined it and built it. It runs on petrol, has a 250cc motor and can pull at least 20 people.
Mr Rhodes said the great thing about the club was that it was all like-minded people.
‘‘We are always here to support anyone who comes along and just wants to build something.’’
