He was upbeat as he toured the workshops, chatting to staff flanked by Labour candidates Clare Curran (Dunedin South) and David Clark (Dunedin North).
Retiring Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson was also present.
Applause broke out when Mr Goff outlined to workers Labour policies requiring KiwiRail and other Government entities to keep work in New Zealand; no asset sales; apprentice schemes for the young.
Dunedin, in particular, missed out on economic development and needed a stronger voice.
Instead of 44 redundancies at Hillside this year, hundreds more staff would have been hired had contracts not been outsourced to China.
Mr Goff said he was impressed by the "world-class workmanship" on display at Hillside.
New Zealand did not need more accountants or lawyers, but did need skilled tradesmen.
His father was a fitter and turner, two sons were in trades, and it irked him when people insinuated those in trades were not as intelligent as those who went to university.
Asked what he would do to keep tradesmen in New Zealand, given they could earn "four times" as much overseas, Mr Goff said New Zealand needed to ensure opportunities were available locally, provide apprenticeships, pay "decent" wages, not sell state assets, and use New Zealanders rather than foreigners to rebuild Christchurch.
As well as rail engineering, New Zealand computer technology companies were missing out on valuable contracts that were going offshore, he said.
Mr Goff was able to underscore the keep-it-local message when a worker called out as the crowd dispersed: "Are you going to let us build the trains?"
Mr Goff answered he hoped about 3500 flat-top wagons could be built in New Zealand rather than being sourced overseas, if Labour was elected.
On Tuesday, National Party leader John Key campaigned in Dunedin, but did not visit Hillside, saying he could not visit "every organisation".
