After 12 months, about 600 hours of manpower and $30,000 later the historic A-class passenger carriage A 199 has been restored to its former glory.
The railway carriage was also recognised by the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand with this year’s Best Carriage and Guards Van Restoration Award at the weekend.
Lumsden Heritage Trust chairman John Titter said they were "ecstatic" to be recognised by the organisation for the project.
"Lumsden Heritage Trust has been going since 2013, so we are relatively new on the rail fraternity block, but we've had some successful projects.
"It is great for the trust and Lumsden to get recognised by such a prestigious organisation, so we are absolutely stoked."
The carriage was officially opened by Southland MP Joseph Mooney, alongside Lumsden Heritage Trust members, yesterday.
Also in attendance were delegates from the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand and people from the community.
The railway carriage will be used as an information kiosk for the Lumsden Heritage Trust’s collection of 1885 V-class locomotives.
It was then taken to a rail line owned by the Ohai Railway Board until the early 1950s when it retired out at a farm in Wairio owned by the Montgomery family.
The railway carriage remained there for about 52 years rotting and growing mould before the trust took it under its wing in the hope it could be preserved.
After 12 months, about 600 hours of manpower and a cost of $30,000 it has been restored.
"To have this carriage which was one of the first of the New Zealand-built carriages returning to Lumsden will reignite some of the identity that Lumsden has with its longstanding railway history and it is quite significant," Mr Titter said.
