Sunset from the station
Thames is situated 115k South East of Auckland City, New Zealand and is on the eastern shores of the Firth of Thames a shallow tidal esturay. It was once a thriving gold mining town with many deep mines. The town once boasted a population of 22,000 in the late 1800's (greater than Auckland). It is now a service and retirement town serving the Coromandel and Hauraki Plains areas and has a population of 8000.
In 1993 a group of enthusiasts got together and formed the
Thames Small Gauge Railway Society Inc.
With a lot of hard work, fund raising and help a site was granted by council on the Thames fore shore where 900metres of 5" and 7.25" dual gauge track was completed and opened in 1998.
The facilities include a heritage style station, steaming bays, sidings and turntable hydraulically operated to rise and fall, tunnel and three bridges.
Trains run every Sunday 11am - 3pm circumstances permitting and visitors are welcome.
The Station with Locos waiting departure.
Site updated 25th July 2005
