Club Meeting Nights & Social Events
A number of social events are also held for members of the Society throughout the year. On the second Wednesday of each month (except January), members meet at the Auckland College of Education for an interesting and informative presentation and discussion on historic items and more contemporary topics that affect the rail industry in New Zealand and abroad. Topics also frequently cover highlights of society events, both past and present and offer members to 'catch up' with one another during the social supper at the conclusion of the program.
Occasionally events are held for members at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. "Railfan's Days" are member-only days where trains re-creating the past are assembled and operated for those who want to ride and photograph them. Often items in the Glenbrook Vintage Railway fleet that aren't seen on public operating days are brought out and operated for the benefit of Society members. These items include members of the classi diesel fleet, the steam crane and freight wagons.
An annual tradition has been the "Midnight Whistle", an evening function on 31 December of each year where members enjoy an evening meal and rare dusk and night time steam train rides. The site when everybody disembarks in a lineside field and the train reverses, prior to roaring past is memorable in itself. A lengthy blast on the whistle echoes aroung the local farms to signal in the New Year.
The Society's Annual General Meeting is usually held in September and covers reports on activities of the society, annual election of all officers and committee members (incumbents, by constitution, must stand down at the beginning of the meeting) and discussions on future activities. The meeting is followed up with a sumptuous meal and some form of entertainment to end the evening.
Read more about this topic: Railway Enthusiasts Society
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