Being a volunteer host on board the Taieri Gorge Railway since 1988 says something about his personality, Otago Excursion Train Trust chairman Trevor Buchanan says.
‘‘I'm either mad, stupid or something.''
Mr Buchanan said the experience of hosting has been a great opportunity to meet people who arrive, to take in the train's scenic excursion through the Taieri and Pukerangi, from many parts of the globe.
The train trip takes about five hours and Mr Buchanan said, while the scenery could be impressive in parts, it was the chance to meet people from all over the world which appealed for hosts and passengers.
‘‘One person said: ‘I can't remember much about the scenery but I enjoyed the day because of the people on the carriage'.''
He said his time as a host had allowed him to make lifelong international friendships.
‘‘I'm still corresponding with a guy I met from Canada in 1993.''
Passengers who passed on their memorable experiences on board the train helped to drive much new custom, Mr Buchanan said.
‘‘There's a lot we find who have been recommended by somebody that they know who has been on the train who says, when they heard that [a friend was] going to Dunedin on a cruise ship, ‘Don't miss out on going on the train'.''
Repeat customers or ‘‘retreads'', in the parlance of train volunteer hosts, were a regular feature as Mr Buchanan recalled with the story of an Australian passenger who wanted to share the experience with a family member.
‘‘Three years ago there was an Australian lady on the carriage that my wife and I were working on and she told us that she was on the same carriage as we [were] four years earlier and enjoyed our company so much that she brought her granddaughter back.''
The trust is seeking new volunteer hosts.
Those interested should visit the website www.oett.nz.
