Palmerston North Electric Power Station Inc.

27/07/2026

A message from the Palmerston North Esplanade Scenic Railway Inc.

Good morning, Esplanade Scenic Railway friends and followers
We Need Your Help!!

Over the course of the recent school holidays and on increasingly numerous other occasions our tracks have been being targeted by whom we are assuming are “young people Having a laugh”.
We have had branches, logs and other debris placed across secluded sections of track, often during running times and sometimes multiple times in one afternoon and in increasing amounts.

This of course causes a major risk for our trains, drivers, and passengers. It also causes a large disruption as we must suspend all trains until the track has been cleared and deemed safe to carry passengers on.

How can you help?? Its simple just be an extra set of eyes and ears. If your walking, riding, wandering etc through the Esplanade keep your eyes out for anything suspicious around our tracks. This doesn’t mean we want vigilantism. If you are comfortable approaching those placing objects on our tracks, advising them that its illegal and high risk, and asking them politely to move on, that’s great. Otherwise take footage and/or let us know at either station during running hours or via messenger or [email protected]

Parents, if your young people are going to hang out unsupervised at the Esplanade please educate them on the risks and illegality of tampering with a registered amusement device. We love seeing them enjoying our beautiful space and being active but not to the detriment of other people or our railway.

We pride ourselves on operating a safe and efficient ride through the esplanade for everyone’s enjoyment, Help us help you Palmy and stay vigilant during your visits to the beautiful Victoria Esplanade.
Kind Regards, The Esplanade Scenic Railway Volunteer team

23/05/2026

We hosted a visit from members of the Manawatu Vintage Machinery Club Inc today, and, as with other visiting groups, the line of vehicles parked out front were very distinctive of the group! Almost all of them were tough-looking utes - perfect for hauling around heavy metal objects, in contrast with the recent Austins and the various other preservation groups that have visited us over the years :-)

02/05/2026

Some relevant history to our power station was in the Manawatu Standard's 'Back Issues' series this week (2 May 2026). Lest anyone not know this, our power station was once the local substation to the Mangahao power station, and some of its gear remains. Also for a few months during 1924, our original three National gas engines generated electricity for the future clients of the Manawatu Oroua Electric Power Board (the MOEPB was to receive its power from Mangahao) in order that MOEPB could create a client base of farmers etc. Finally Mangahao was ready to start and had its official opening. A week later, our power station finally 'had its big day' and was officially opened - many months after it had been hard at work powering the district. (Then MOEPB set about trying to get rid of our power station......! But that's another story!)

The North Island’s first major hydroelectric plant, this scheme was the central government’s second major project after Lake Coleridge in Canterbury.

09/04/2026

Saturday, April 11th, is Foxton's big day as part of PN's 2026 Heritage Festival. This list was re-created to show times and addresses etc. (i.e. the various links are just blue text here), but if you follow the main link at the top of the post - the PN Library's webpage - and then scroll down that page, you will find all the details of each place to visit.

With regards to the power-generation fans, you can get to see the 'old school stuff', like wind generation at De Molen, technical electric-related stuff at MAVtech, flax-related production work at the flax museum, and if all else fails you can come and talk to me as I babysit the Foxton Courthouse for the afternoon ;-)

04/04/2026

This little clip shows both engines chugging away together at the last start of the day at our Heritage Festival on March 29th 2026. Less people around for the last start (some of whom were repeat visitors from earlier in the day - coming to see both engines running together). We traditionally start both engines together to mark 'home time' ;-)

04/04/2026

These photos show the Heritage Festival Open Day/Afternoon at the power station on March 29th 2026. The photos show the first and third afternoon engine starts. Their aim was to attempt to allow a count of visitors for the Heritage Festival folk, who like to know these things (we didn't have time for an 'actual' count). The first, second and third engine starts were very busy, while the fourth and final start (both engines together, was quieter - except on the part of the two engines.

03/04/2026

Last Sunday, 29 March 2026, we had two sets of visitors at the power station. In the afternoon we had our Heritage Festival open afternoon, but in the morning we also hosted the Austin Car Club to a visit and engine start. So these photos are from the morning visit. Will post the afternoon visit in due course (now I've downloaded them from my trusty cellphone)

01/04/2026

This isn't one of our engines clearly, but rather its their great grandparent - back in Sweden, where the design for our Glasgow-made British Polar engines originated. It's caption reads:
"A rare startup of a 1910 diesel engine, still alive after more than a century. It powers two generators producing 42 kW each, delivering 110 volts of direct current. Built by AB Diesels Motorer, model Polar T3K. 15 tons of machinery. Hidden inside Oscar Fredriksborg Fortress in Stockholm, this is industrial history still in motion."
https://www.facebook.com/reel/977737401495089

24/03/2026

Cool scenes - promoting our coming open day :-)