Engine is back after excursion
The Friendly Bay Playground locomotive, found floating in the Oamaru Harbour on October 7, has been restored and returned to its rightful place.
Waitaki District Council harbour co-ordinator Rex Stringer, property manager Dougall McIntyre and Bruce Cawley of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society met at the Oamaru Harbour yesterday to see the loco placed back where it belongs.
The train, designed for children to play on, had been installed just three weeks before being found in the water.
The Oamaru Steam and Rail Society spent up to 120 hours constructing the train, which is believed to have been thrown into the harbour on October 5.
A 17-year-old Oamaru male handed himself in to police, saying he was responsible for throwing the Friendly Bay Playground train into the Oamaru Harbour.
The apologetic youth volunteered his services to assist in the restoration of the train, which sustained some damage in the incident.
Mr Cawley said the youth had been a great help in the tasks of sanding, priming and repainting the half-tonne piece of playground equipment in two weeks.
"I thank him for coming forward and giving us a hand," he said.
The train, in the younger children's area of the playground, will soon by accompanied by more new playground equipment, including a carousel, two slides and a pirate boat.
Totem poles will also be covered in ceramic tiles, created by Oamaru Intermediate School pupils.
