Workers prepare to lift one of the two locomotives out of the Oreti River this morning. Photo: Stephen JaquieryOne of two historic steam class locomotives has been retrieved from a Southland river this morning, but the other will be staying behind. Two 1885 V Class steam class locomotives were dumped in the Oreti River, north of Lumsden, in 1927, and efforts cranked up in earnest today to lift them out. The recovery is being done by Lumsden Heritage Trust members and contractors with heavy machinery, including a 110-tonne crane. The retrieved engine will be given a spruce-up and displayed on a specially built track at the Lumsden Railway Precinct.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 28, 2020 20:55 UTC