other facilities. In May 1983, the first major public event was held. The "Mayfair Festival" was held and featured the Canterbury Railway Societys Manning Wardle No. 1841 of 1914, and Fowler No. 16246 of 1924 from the Canterbury Steam Preservation Society, along with rakes of LA and LC "high-side" wagons, full of passengers. Shuttles ran from the old Waipara yard to the 3 km straight. In July 1983, the railway agreed with the New Zealand Railways Corporation to lease the line between Waipara and the south bank of the Hurunui River. Public running commenced on 4 June 1984, and travelled from McCaskeys Crossing to Herberts Crossing (and stopped for picnics at Frog Rock along the way). The WPR purchased the leased section of the line on 3 September 1984, and the final payment was made on 28 August 1990. On 30 September 1984, running on the line ceased due to legal complications about the transfer of the ownership. The railway was later granted permission to operate trains on under their own name on the line, a public running recommenced on 17 March 1985. Following the closure the Waiau line, all of the track remained in place except for the removal of a level crossing at Waikari where the road crossed State Highway 7 due to Transit New Zealand and the National Roads Board refusing for the crossing to be reinstalled. Because of this, in September 1988 the WPR agreed to lift the line between Waikari and the south bank of the Hurunui River, and section was finally lifted by July 1991. Track and turntables Track The Weka Pass Railway operates 12.8 km of the former Waiau Branchline between Waipara and its terminus at Waikari. Not long after trains commenced running to Waikari, the railway suffered a major setback in 1986 when heavy rain damaged the line in a number of places. During this time, it was decided that the line wasn't in good condition, and it would need extensive repairs, and earthworks in some portion of line. By April 1987 trains were running to the 5.5 km peg. Due to a slump near Antils Hut found in September 1987, trains were once again restricted. After repairs were made, trains recommenced running to the area on 28 January 1988. During this time, the section of track between the old Waipara yard and Glenmark Station were realigned. In the same year, work