Ormondville Rail Preservation Group Inc.
Some Remarks from the Visitor's Book
at Ormondville
Railway Station
Home
Page - Bed
& Breakfast - Souvenirs
Note: While the visitor’s book was started in 1995, these entries mostly date from around the start of the Bed & Breakfast operations, at which time some of the comments became longer and more detailed. It is noteworthy also that numbers of trains passing the station in the night vary according to the time of the week. For example, typical weekends see few, if any, night trains.
April 1995 (Dannevirke): '"Character" coming back - well done."
April 1995: "Group of nine visited station to get some know-how for Waipukurau Station restoration."
April 1996 (Christchurch): "Huge improvements since last visit." (a regular worker's mum.)
December 1996 (Palmerston North): A driver: "The times I've been in the loop!! X-ing the Bay Wallahs - nice to see our history preserved."
March 1997 (Takapuna): "Our stay here has been a really unique experience, very comfortable. The work done here to date is a credit to those involved. Many thanks."
March 1997 (Hastings): "Brings back memories of the early settlers." (From a descendant of same.)
April 1997 (Takapuna): "Very impressed. Keep up the good work. This station and environs are excellently restored as a reminder of what these stations used to be like in their heyday."
October
1997 (Wellington):
“Reckon this is the best B & B around. Where else does the ground shake 3
times on Friday night and at other times the silence is complete; where else can
you open the bedroom doors to railway wagons and cows grazing; where are the
fishing rivers as numerous and the stationmaster as excellent a guide to the
waters; where do you get hot bacon & onion scones delivered for lunch; where
is such a host as (B & B hostess)? An excellent weekend stay, we’ll be
back – it works so well.” (Note: Same guest as below in August 1998)
January
1998 (Palmerston North):
“My parents…met at Makotuku Station and farmed at Ormondville 1914-1920.”
March
1998 (Victoria, Australia):
“Saw the write-up in Historic Places Trust (magazine) – had to come! Well
worth it – a unique experience.”
June
1998 (Wellington):
“Great 40th birthday surprise. I love the bike ride around
Ormondville. Ex-NZR 12½ years. Will go back to Wellington and spread the good
word on Ormondville. I have sorely missed the 1997 grand opening.”
July
1998 (Barcelona, Spain):
“(Thanks to B & B hostess) and a very special thanks to the Ormondville
Station fireplace which kept us alive as we patiently awaited the night trains.
Heavy morning frost gave a final glorious touch to paradise!!”
August
1998 (Wellington):
“Not only did the ground shake, but the building shook when a local
crashed (his car) into the bathroom wall on Friday night!” (Note: Same
guest as above in October 1997)
October
1998 (Dunedin):
“A privilege to have stayed here. Fascinating. Thanks to all concerned. May
this enterprise prosper.”
May
1999 (Ormondville):
“Really a very cool place, warm and comfortable, and the chef’s great. Well
she’s my mum.”
August 1999 (Oxford,
England): “What a unique stop over! Ended up
here by chance - wanted to break up the Wellington-Napier journey. Great
restoration without feeling like a museum.” (Note:The writer added that he
was an architect who specialised in conservation work.)
September 1999 (Wellington): “Probably the most laid back and relaxing birthday I’ve ever had! Thanks Ormondville.”
September
1999 (Napier):
“Very comfortable bed and H.Q. for exploring district. With a good fire,
survived a wet and cold night. Blown away by the thorough and painstaking
restoration – fascinating result.”
October
1999 (Ormondville):
“Thanks for the info for my project.”
December
1999 (Sydney, Australia):
“The beds so comfortable that I fell asleep straight after the trains roared
by last night.”
January
2000 (Te Aroha):
“This is a unique opportunity in N.Z.!! Hospitality excellent. Should be more
of this accommodation in the country. Will be back some day, hopefully – one
train!!!”
January 2000 (Wellington): “Very interesting – the beds look very comfortable!”
January
2000 (London, England):
“A job well done, preserving memories, enriching the future.”
January
2000 (Palmerston North): “Great welcome, great trains - five - and meal at Makotuku
(Hotel), enriching the future.”
February
2000 (Essex, England):
“An interesting and exciting visit.”
March
2000 (Levin):
“Mega-nostalgic flashback for an ex-Waiouru railways brat. Father a ganger.
Relaxing sleep, invigorating pushbike ride. Great social night (at) Ormondville
Hotel. Thank you sincerely.”
March
2000 (Auckland): [1]
“We’ve stayed in hotels, motels, guesthouses and camping grounds, and have
forgotten most, (however) our stay at Ormondville Station will be remembered for
ever.” [2] “Truly unforgettable, don’t miss this experience if you
can! Seven trains in one night!”
April 2000 (Guildford, Western Australia): Ex-Ormondville School pupil. "(I'll be back)."
June 2000: Tararua Branch, New Zealand Historic Places Trust - "Great venue for a meeting."
June 2000 (Fordell, Wanganui): "Absolutely fabulous, 100% more comfortable than stations we have slept in - Europe, Hungary-Budapest, Kenya, Zambia, India and Indonesia."
July 2000 (Fordell, Wanganui): (Same people as above) "Back again! - This is such a great place from the 3 little (surname)'s." (The family also left the following on one of our whiteboards, to ensure we noticed the message): "Thank-you! We enjoyed staying here a lot. Its such a neat place. It would be nice if they had more places like this in New Zealand. Once again. Thanks a lot! From the (surname)."
