Until double-tracking between the station and Mt Eden in 2005, eastbound morning trains ran on the westbound track through the loop, avoiding the need for the school pupils to cross the line.

Again, the train would disgorge its pupils at Mt Eden and then chug merrily past the school almost empty, leaving the boys to walk half a mile, often in heavy rain.

"Well, somebody must have been pulling some strings up above, because on the day of the Minister's visit it rained cats and dogs, and even the odd pink elephant ..."[3] and Brother Monagle's request was granted.

[5] Another noteworthy event occurred in November 1965, when, for the last time, the North train was pulled by a steam engine.

Surely no single person has ever held down so many positions at once - stationmaster, signalman, ticket inspector and guard, not to mention construction engineer, traffic officer and the occasional shot at engine-driving!

During the many years that he was associated with the train, Brother Monagle became friends with most of the railway employees along the line as he made his trip each afternoon as far as Mt Albert".