Hi Bob I m a Kiwi member of the group, this is my first posting as I am a new member but I thought your cause was near to my heart.
The New Zealand railways system is unique in that it has items of stock and locomotives from all kinds of areas,including the US, Japan, Hungary, England and some home grown kiwi ones that pride themshelves in the kiwi flair of
" well bugger me Bruce, Im sure we can knock the bastard off". The track is 3 foot 6 and a half gauge and lays in a topography similar to Japan, which also shares the same gauge of tracks as New Zealand (the bullet lines being the broader exception) This is the gauge that the British recommended to both countries.
The NZ government sold to an American guy from Wisconson who over acouple of decades has stripped nearly every passager service in the country and concentrated on freight, consisting mainly of coal, timber and food production.
This is unfortunate because for those that have been to NZ and those having seen Lord of The Rings will realise that it is one of, if not the most, scenic country on Earth. As New Zealands largest earner of revenue, Tourism brings many travellers from abroad, the largest groups from countries such as Japan Britain Sweden and The US. It seems that many of these tourists seek out travel by rail and are confused to find that although the lines appear on maps that they can not be used for passenger transfer by themselves. The present stats comparing rail use by passengers and rail use for freight are at total oppersites between the US and Japan.
The jornery over the southern alps is often listed in the top 10 journeys by train. There have even been a hobbit or two spotted over the years using this line as this is near several locations from Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings films. Its a great trip with the longest tunnel in NZ
My favourite line in New Zealand is a present day steam line.
The line is the Kingston Flyer line. And for $20 bucks and a smile you will be able to drive the loco as I did several years ago. The line is near Queenstown in the South Island which is a world famous Ski resort in winter.
The line runs through wonderful scenery.
I think the loco is a Wa or Wb but dont hold me to that, possibly 4 6 2 configuration similar shape to a Baldwin that I saw on a Rio Grande Model.
The specialist scale in NZed is called Sn3.5 which is 1/64 scale on standard width HO track
I saw a copy of this train in this scale in Iron Horse Hobbies in Christchurch ready built in lost wax casting and brass for approx $300 US and it was fully weathered
Anyway one place I do suggest you try is Ferrymead in CHCHurch as it is a steam and early desiel musuem
I hope you have a wonderful trip to my old hunting ground Bob. It gets wet, dry cold and hot at the drop of a hat in NZ so take a jacket and the suncreen
Jan to April beat time to go.
Anyway if there are other points needed or any other kiwi members out there reading this join in.
Kia Kaha ( Maori for BE BRAVE BE STRONG)
Regards Leo Maxim
PS I model German 1970s N and Japan across the board from pre WW1 up to tyhe latest bullets in N also.