Tāhunanui train derailed

An iconic playground piece which has entertained generations of Nelson children since the 1960s has left its station.

The concrete pipe train, which was installed by the Nelson Host Lions Club at Tāhunanui Beach in 1964, was recently removed without a bell by Nelson City Council due to damage which posed a health and safety risk to children.

An elected member has called the sudden derailment “highly disappointing” and “an insult” on social media and the community have called on council to get a replacement on track.

Nelson City Council group manager for community services, Andrew White, says the train suffered “considerable damage” between 9 and 10 September which left it with a shattered section.

“It’s not clear whether this damage was intentional or accidental, but the broken section of the train exposed pieces of its internal steel reinforcing, revealing it had rusted,” he says.

He says council was notified of the damage on 11 September and the train was fenced off before it was removed on 13 September.

“This type of internal structural failure cannot be repaired, and following inspection of the damage, council officers were concerned the train could have collapsed at any time and required removal as it was no longer a safe piece of playground equipment for children to enjoy,” he says.

Andrew says because it was an “operational matter” within council, elected members were not informed, but in hindsight its damage and removal should have been flagged with them.

“We appreciate that the sudden removal of this much-loved piece of playground equipment came as a shock to our community, many of whom have fond memories of playing on the train as children, and we are sorry that we didn’t explain the decision at the time,” he says.

“We hope you understand that leaving the train in place wasn’t an option. We consulted with the Nelson Host Lions Club, who helped build the original train in the 1960s, and will be working with them, in consultation with the community, on a suitable replacement for the area.”

Nelson Host Lions Club president, Paul Milne, says he was comfortable with the icon’s derailment and would now work with council to get it back on track.

“We were advised [by council] that it’s no longer appropriate, so it’s something that has got to be removed, that’s the way it goes in the modern world,” he says.

“I know everything has its time and it appears the iconic train has had its time, so it’s maybe time for something more modern and practical to be installed.”