The oldest New Zealand-built locomotive, Skunk, long believed lost to the sands of time, has resurfaced at the South Mole in Whanganui.
At the beginning of last month a digger operator working on a project to reinstate the mole hit something solid, and investigated further. SteamRail Whanganui were soon called in and upon futher digging it became clear a locomotive engine was buried in the sand.
Using old papers the team at SteamRail Whanganui confirmed it was Skunk, built in 1875 and lost for 75 years. Hamish Coull is a member on the SteamRail Whangnui committee - he was part of the recovery team.
Photo: Supplied by Horizons Regional Council
