- A North Island property with a 370-metre miniature railway is for sale, attracting nationwide interest.
- Ian Jones built the railway, featuring tunnels, bridges, and stations, over the past decade.
- Jones, 70, is selling to focus on other hobbies, hoping for a buyer who appreciates the railway.
A North Island property with a fully functioning 370-metre miniature railway has hit the market for sale, attracting calls from around the country.
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Vendor Ian Jones told OneRoof that when he bought land at 133 Cornfoot Street, in the Whanganui suburb of Castlecliff, he had no idea he would end up building the ultimate big kid's train set on it.
“I only bought it because it was a beautiful piece of land. It was completely overgrown, but I just saw the potential of the property to be fabulous.”
The railway project was born months later when Jones spotted a child-sized petrol locomotive for sale online. “I saw a little locomotive for sale, made a bid not expecting to win it, and I won it,” Jones told OneRoof.
Two of the 10 tunnels owner Ian Jones built at the property. Photo / Supplied
Nikau Junction Railway station, one of two that Jones's train passes during its 12-minute trip. Photo / Supplied
It was only when Jones drove up to Cambridge to pick up his new train that the idea of building a railway track on his property take hold. The seller took Jones for a spin around his own track. “I thought, ‘This is awesome. I am going to build one of these.'"
Jones has always had a passion for trains. When he left school more than 50 years ago, he joined New Zealand Rail at the Woburn Workshops as an apprentice coachbuilder, training that has come in handy over the past decade.
His Nikau Junction Railway, as he named his project, boasts 10 tunnels, two bridges, an artificial hill, and two stations.
The line is 370 metres long and takes 12 minutes to drive around, Jones said. “When you do a ride, you leave the station, and it's two intertwining loops.”
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Jones built everything, including the stations, in his shed. He bought steel for the tracks in 6m lengths, which he curved and welded.
The railway isn’t officially open to the public, but plenty of local children have enjoyed rides. "I get calls weekly from people who've got wind of it,” Jones said, noting that families sometimes pop by to see the railway. “People who take up the offer are most surprised.”
Jones, 70, has decided to sell the property to concentrate on his other hobbies and investments. “I have 20 motorbikes and some properties that I want to develop. The railway's a distraction to other things in my life. I've done it for 10 years," he told OneRoof, adding: I am going to help my friend build another railway, so I’m not going to be out of the railway scene.”
The ideal buyer, he said, would be "ideally, a retired man who wants to live in the bus, and play trains with his grandkids”. The locomotive included in the sale is an electric Locopower 3.5 HP Briggs and Stratton, with Jones having sold the original petrol-powered locomotive some time ago.
The track isn't open to the public, but Jones does let local families go for a ride. Photo / Supplied
The property comes with a house bus. Photo / Supplied
There is also an option to buy the section without the railway. “My friend would buy the railway, because we could relocate all the track to his place and modify it to suit his property.”
Jones added: “It's a fabulous section. The growth on it is spectacular. If a house were put in amongst it all, it could be fabulous.”
Property Brokers agent Kerryn Irvin said she was very happy to have been in the office on the day that Jones walked in looking to sell his property.
“We got talking, and I was just totally enthused by his character, his imagination, and what he had created,” Irvin said.
“It was just enchanting. You walk through this gate, this high fence, you wouldn't even know what's behind it. And you walk into this creation. You're just suddenly in this actual setting, which is unique and just wonderful.”
“It was just lucky he walked in when I was on duty, and we clicked as to how we saw marketing it.”
Irvin said she started receiving calls from around the country as soon as the property was listed. The railway was the drawcard for several of the callers, who were arranging to visit Whanganui and view. Castlecliff itself was a drawcard for others.
“Castlecliff has been through this whole rejuvenation over the past five to six years. As a coastal area, it was probably undervalued for a long time. There's a wonderful local community out there, a cafe, art galleries, the beach, the pavilion restoration. So it's come up in value and is a desirable spot to live,” she said.
“We would ideally like to see it go to someone who would appreciate and love what is actually there. If it does come down to a bare section, it would seem a bit of a shame. But once again, it's the vendor's decision as to how they sell it, given any offers that are received.”
The sale includes 759sqm of land, the house bus, and a miniature railway. The RV is $220,000.
- 133 Cornfoot Street, Castlecliff, Whanganui, is for sale, deadline closing February 27
