Choo Choo! Massey Station is a loco-motivated exhibition sparked by the curiosity of a local photographer and made possible thanks to funding from Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
Inside Ngā Hau Māngere / Māngere Centre Park, nestled in the lush green landscape on Robertson Road, there’s a place where steam engines puff with pride, and the sound of miniature trains echo through the air.
Puff puff, full steam ahead! Image: Manukau Live Steamers.
The Manukau Live Steamers, a passionate group of miniature locomotive enthusiasts, have created more than just a club—they've built a legacy.
It is this legacy, dating back to 1981 that local photographer Vinesh Kumaran based in Māngere, passionate about showcasing the heart of local communities, captures the spirit and dedication of the members of the Manukau Live Steamers club in Māngere.
The Hill & Tunnel Track (based on the famous Raurimu Spiral) and The Park Track. Image: Manukau Live Steamers.
Massey Station exhibition was proudly supported by the local board through its arts grants programme.
Exhibition opening (L-R): chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich, club member David Giles and board member Christine O’Brien.
Chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich says, “The exhibition will become a record for years to come and Vinesh has wonderfully captured the members, locomotives and the beautiful surrounds of Centre Park, a real gem of Māngere that has been enjoyed by many.”
Vinesh Kumaran at the opening of his exhibition. His work celebrates the people, cultures, and experiences that shape South Auckland.
Driving on the Southwestern motorway, Kumaran often found himself curious about the train tracks winding through Māngere Centre Park. He later discovered that the tracks belonged to the club.
The exhibition is a mix of photography and video, available on Kumaran, the Māngere Ōtāhuhu Arts and the Steamers club Facebook pages. Combining portraits with video interviews, it features 20-30 participants and 5 final video interviews.
L-R: Dave, Vinesh, with Don from the Steamers opening proceedings.
Run entirely by volunteers, the club has been bringing joy to locals and those from afar, with Sunday train rides for over 40 years. Whether it's a steam, electric, or diesel train, people can enjoy a ride around three tracks:
Hill Track
- Opened in 1985, is 850 metres long and inspired by the Raurimu Spiral (a single-track in the North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk railway between Wellington and Auckland). It features a balloon loop, horseshoe curves, a viaduct, and a 20-metre curved tunnel.
Park Track
- Opened in January 1990 for the International Live Steamers Convention and is 1.2 kilometres long. It features a prairie loop around the trees of Mangere's Centre Park and a 60-metre bridge over a wet area.
Station Complex and Clubrooms
- Massey Junction station and the club rooms opened in 1993, becoming an asset to the club. The site also has several steaming bays, two large turntables, watering facilities, and a coaling and fuelling area near the loading bays.
Dave next to his portrait in which he wears an American train drivers’ uniform.
Rides on the trains cost $2, with free entry for children under 2 and concession packs available. Membership is open to anyone interested in model engineering and trains. It’s great fun for the whole family. The club is open Sundays from 11am to 3pm.
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