Shantytown

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A trip along the West Coast is never complete without a trip to Shantytown.
The last time we were there was many years ago when we were on holiday with the children.
Unfortunately my camera battery went flat so I didn't get to take many pictures, but here is the few I did get. Shantytown is a worthwhile stop for a look into early life on the West Coast, it is well presented and has a nice authentic feel about it. The steam train ride along the old sawmill track in Katie.


The main stay of the railway at Shantytown since its opening in 1972 has been the F-Class Kaitangata'. This engine was builtt for the Kaitangata Coal & Railway Co. to work the 8 kilometre line from the coal mine at Kaitangata to the N.Z.R. at Stirling.

The coal company and railway were taken over by the State Mines Department in the 1950's with the locomotive continuing to operate the railway until the mine closed in 1969. In February 1971 the locomotive was donated to Shantytown.

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Photos

Shantytown
"Katie" as she is known, the Shantytown Steam Engine

Shantytown
The track through the bush