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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 1 (April 21, 1927)

[section]

In our February issue an attempt was made to anticipate pictorially the course of the tour of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York over the railway portion of their journey through New Zealand. A full record of the run, from the time the Royal Party joined the train at Auckland to the moment of alighting at Bluff, viewed from its railway aspect, should prove historically interesting. Space, however, prevents the publication of a complete account at present.

His Royal Highness on the footplate.

His Royal Highness on the footplate.

In the North Island, railway routes were followed from Auckland via Frankton to Rotorua. For the balance of the journey the train was also used excepting for the motor run between Rotorua and National Park. These train journeys included the Main Trunk run from National Park to Marton and through Taranaki to New Plymouth, returning by the same route and thence across the Island to Napier from whence the journey to Wellington was made via the Wairarapa line and over the Rimutaka incline. The wonderful variety of scenery encountered in the course of this itinerary and the general impression of well-being created by the appearance of the happy groups at every stopping places, made a big and lasting impression upon our Royal visitors and their entourage.

The northern portion of the journey in the South Island was made mostly by motor, but at Inangahua, on the West coast, junction was made with the northernmost tentacle of the South Island Main Trunk system, and thereafter all travelling on the tour, excepting that from Cromwell to Kingston via Pembroke and Queenstown, was made by the South Island Royal train.

When it is remembered that a distance of over 1,700 miles out of a total itinerary comprising slightly over 2,000 miles was traversed by rail, it may be understood to how great an extent the railways of this country were used in preference to other modes of travel by our Royal visitors on their mission of Empire.