View source for Project Steam

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{notability|date=April 2024}}
'''Project Steam''' is a [[railway]] preservation society based in [[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]]. It is dedicated to the restoration of [[steam locomotive]]s formerly operated by the [[New Zealand Railways Department]], with its goal to restore at least one locomotive to main line operating conditions in order to operate excursions from [[Dunedin Railway Station]]. The society is currently the only one of its kind in Dunedin; the [[Ocean Beach Railway]] operates small [[tank locomotive]]s but on private trackage, and the popular [[Taieri Gorge Railway|Taieri Gorge Limited]] is run solely by [[diesel locomotive]]s.

The restoration of [[NZR P class (1885)|P]] 107, also using some parts from the remains of P 25, is currently the focus of Project Steam's efforts. The two locomotives were built in 1885 by [[Nasmyth, Wilson and Company]], entered service in 1887, were withdrawn in 1928, and on 8 August 1932 were dumped in the [[Clutha River]] near [[Beaumont, New Zealand|Beaumont]] to protect the [[Roxburgh Branch]] from erosion. Their remains were recovered in May 1992, and as the frame of P 107 was in a better condition, it was chosen for restoration, with extra parts sourced from P 25, most notably its wheels, which were in better condition to P 107's.

During the celebration of the Dunedin Railway Station's centennial in October 2006, P 107 was displayed in partially rebuilt condition at the station. Funds are currently being raised for the next and most costly stage of the restoration, the reconstruction of P 107's boiler. The restoration is historically significant as the locomotive is one of, if not the earliest known surviving example of a British-built {{whyte|2-8-0}}. Once fully restored, there are proposals to establish a regular service run by P 107 as a tourist attraction, such as a service modelled on the [[Kingston Flyer]]. It would run over the preserved track of the [[Otago Central Railway]] between [[Pukerangi]] and [[Middlemarch]], connecting with the Taieri Gorge Railway's daily diesel-hauled services between Dunedin and Pukerangi.

Project Steam's first home was a location by the Water of Leith in central Dunedin. Later the group moved most of the restorable items to the [[Dunedin Gasworks Museum|Dunedin Gas Works]], where the frame and wheels of P 107 were continued to be worked on while P 25's frame (cut into sections) could be found stored onsite. All other components such as spare wheels, old tender bodies and the boilers were moved to a field next to the [[Taieri Gorge Railway]] at Sutton. In 2008, with redevelopment occurring at the Gas Works necessitating the group's removal from the Gas Works, P 107 was shifted to Springfield and is now located at the [[Midland Rail Heritage Trust]]. It is understood that the group will continue to restore P 107 to operational order at Springfield.

== References ==
* Tom McKinlay, "Hopes Raised for Steam Engine", ''Otago Daily Times'', October 2006.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060808212420/http://ourpage.co.nz/psd/ Official page of Project Steam]

{{NZR Heritage}}

[[Category:Rail transport preservation in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Dunedin]]
[[Category:Transport in Dunedin]]