Book research: a steam engine and a scenic railway journey (with video!)

It’s book research time! Join me aboard the Passchendaele Ashhurst Flyer for a trip through the Manawatū Gorge.

Ab608 Passchendaele steam locomotive at Woodville Station

I’m currently writing the next Milverton Mystery, Killer on the Kelvin Explorer, which will involve a scenic railway journey featuring a powerful steam engine pulling lovingly restored heritage carriages. On the train, passengers enjoy dramatic landscapes and endless cups of tea. When it comes to driving Milverton’s tourism, Addison can see they’re already on the right track. Unfortunately, a death en route threatens to derail not only the day’s excursion but any future marketing efforts. Passengers have been promised an unforgettable day out – and they’re going to get it.

Ab608 Passchendaele steam locomotive in the Manawatū Gorge

Now, if I’m going to write this book with any authenticity, really help the reader feel like they were there, I knew I had to experience something like it for myself. Minus the murder, of course.

And so I decided to join Steam Incorporated on the weekend for a short trip from Woodville to Ashhurst (which is just across the river from my fictional town of Milverton) and back again!

Map showing the Manawatū Gorge with the railway line running alongside the Manawatū River between Woodville and Ashhurst

State Highway 3 used to pass through the Manawatū Gorge but the road was closed for good in 2017 due to persistent landslips, and the new road connection now passes through the ranges to the north, well away from the gorge. And so, scenic railway journeys are the way to travel if you want to see the majestic Manawatū Gorge, travelling on this railway line that was completed in 1891.

Our train was hauled to Ashhurst by their steam locomotive Ab 608 ‘Passchendaele’ which was built by the New Zealand Railways Department in their Addington Workshops in Christchurch in 1915 (which makes it 110 years old!). And then for the return journey to Woodville, our train was hauled from the other end by their Canadian diesel electric Da 1410, built by General Motors Diesel Ltd in Ontario, Canada in 1955 (still an impressive 70 years ago).

Join me on board in this video

I edited together some clips from the outing into this short video (just over 2 minutes) which you can watch on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or right here:

@gbralph
All aboard! Join me on a scenic railway journey as I research my next mystery novel 🚂🕵️‍♂️ #BookTok #Mystery #ChooChoo
♬ original sound – Gavin / G. B. Ralph

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Killer on the Kelvin Explorer

It was a fun trip which provided plenty of inspiration that I cannot wait to include in the next Milverton Mystery, Killer on the Kelvin Explorer, available to pre-order now.