Running time : 65 minutes

Price: NZ$ 29.95

BACK ON TRAX

Steam Locomotive Ab663 'Sharon Lee' was built in the Addington Workshops of the New Zealand Government Railways in 1917 and spent her career running in both islands of New Zealand until being withdrawn from service in 1969. Unlike many others of her class, Ab663 did not suffer the fate of being cut up for scrap steel but was kept as a spare engine for the newly instituted 'Kingston Flyer' service.

Ultimately it was not required for this role and was purchased by Mainline Steam founder Ian Welch who has subsequenly restored her for running back on the mainlines of New Zealand. This film covers the latter details of her restoration and mailine running with a particular emphasis made on a recent excursion as the last passenger train to run north of Napier on the Palmerston North to Gisborne Railway.