“I love doing it, but I’m finding the body is getting a bit aged now,” he said with a laugh.
“I just like seeing all the people getting dressed up.”
Bill Town at a previous Art Deco Festival. Photo / Supplied
The Foxton resident started working on railways at the age of 17 in Gisborne and spent the rest of his career on railways and around trains, with stints in Wairoa, Napier and Wellington.
“I had a great life on the railways, it was bloody beautiful.”
As for steam trains, Town said he “just fell in love with their noise and all the rest” from a young age.
He said being involved with steam trains through volunteering with Steam Incorporated had been fantastic, not to mention “the comradeship of the staff”.
The father of seven has family in Hawke’s Bay, and is looking forward to celebrating his last festival with family.
He said his favourite part of the train line was probably the Napier to Gisborne section, which was no longer in use. He said he would love to see it reopened in future.
The 2026 Art Deco Festival runs from February 19-22.