TICKET TO RIDE
The distant hiss and roar of steam engines, the screech of locomotive brakes, a guard’s whistle blowing, and the clang of railway-crossing signals greet visitors arriving in George Hawkins’s shed.
Above the sounds of the rail yards come intermittent sirens, squeals of children playing in a rural school, and a church choir in full voice. About the only thing missing from this room of rail is the smell of diesel and coal-fired steam trains.
With around 14 metres of track, running the circumference of the inner walls of his shed, George has created a slice of NZ Railways history, circa mid 1960s, give or take a few years, a little poetic licence, and a lot of humour.
Personal touches
Everything on the track references George’s personal memories, historical details, or elements of railway antiquity; the North Island main trunk from Papakura to Huntly — with a branch line to the coal depot at Rotowaro.
“The main stations stay the same but I change things around a bit. Look closely, you might find Prince Harry,” he says.
While the young royal is something of a time traveller in this backcountry setting, he represents the lengths to which
