Manawatu Gorge - Driver and Passenger views of the raging river below.

Dramatic gorge, raging river, beautifully restored old train and superb New Zealand scenery, as the young like to say “what’s not to like”. We set out from Palmerston North aboard Steam Incorporated’s “Deco Delights Express” with DA 1431, heading along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) to its junction with the Napier line, continuing through pleasant rolling countryside to Ashhurst and the beginning of the legendary gorge. The river is a raging torrent of muddy brown water, cautiously the driver eases our train along a ledge cut in the rock face carrying the line above the swirling cauldron below. Our train edges slowly over a succession precarious bridges, squeezing through narrow tunnels, punctuated with breath taking views of the gorge fore and aft. This is a trip that is going to be talked about for years to come. We pass the remnants of previous rock slips, the result of earthquakes or torrential rain reminding us of nature’s awesome power, finally our little train of red carriages climbs out of the stupendous gorge, to speed across rolling green pastures to Woodville.
Track Gauge - 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)