Ian Jones, a 70‑year‑old retiree from Whanganui, spent 11 years turning a modest residential plot into a fully functional miniature railway, complete with 10 tunnels, two bridges, an artificial hill and twin stations. The 370‑metre track loops around the property, offering a 12‑minute ride that has become a local curiosity.
Listing the house on TradeMe attracted a wave of interest, but most buyers focused on the land and overlooked the elaborate track. Eventually a couple with a teenager, already living in a bus and planning a move, emerged as the right match. They intend to keep the railway running and plan to continue the whimsical lifestyle the property inspired.
The sale price of NZ$240,000 exceeded the property’s rateable value by NZ$20,000, a notable figure in a market where many vacant sections struggle to find buyers. The buyer’s commitment to maintain the railway positions the home as a unique attraction in the area and sets a precedent for heritage‑style real‑estate transactions.
Jones is not abandoning his passion; he is redirecting it toward renovating his own home and participating in a larger model‑railway project near Castlecliff. The property, meanwhile, is slated to become a wedding venue, giving it a new commercial purpose while preserving the miniature railway as a community landmark.