[1] The GVR is run by a trust board of three trustees elected and appointed from Railway Enthusiasts Society (RES) membership.

The 7.4 km (4.6 mi) long railway carries up to 30,000 passengers during the normal operating season, which is from October to June, and is also available for charter throughout the year.

Re-construction of the GVR began in 1970, slashing back gorse that had overgrown the line, renewing rail, and building the Pukeoware Depot and the terminus at Glenbrook.

[2] The acquisition of items of rolling stock included "delivery" rail-tours, bringing the steam locomotive fleet from the South Island back to Auckland for use at Glenbrook.

On 5 December 1986, DC 4444 and six Cityrail branded carriages made the run from Auckland to Fernleigh (including the GVR section).

The next day a special excursion train ran from Auckland, carrying Prime Minister David Lange, who presided at the opening on 6 December 1986.

[5] JA 1250 and DA 529 hauled a large public excursion out to Glenbrook station from Auckland dubbed the "Sunset Coast Express".

As part of the work, a new bridge would be required to reach Tamakae Reserve, and so a temporary station was opened at Victoria Avenue in Waiuku, just behind the Cosmopolitan Club.

Double-decker buses, traction engines, vintage motor cars and other related displays have also been presented at these events over the years.

Since then various similar events have been held with special passenger and freight workings featuring a range of historic rolling stock and locomotives.

A second steam festival was held in February 2007, incorporating a visit from 7nhp Burrell 'Scenic Special' showman's engine Quo Vadis (wrks.

Historic 19th century visiting tank engine L 207 (from MOTAT) operated a demonstration freight train (including a rare mainline appearance by historic 3-axle carriage C 472), followed by the recreation of an original New Zealand "trial rail-motor" from the beginning of the 20th century (which comprised one small tank engine pulling one of four purpose built 60 ft car/vans).

[6] The train comprised L 207 and the recently restored dining car van "Kurahaupo" (AF 1182), which was one of the original purpose-built trial rail-motor carriages.

[7] WW 480 was on standby duties outside the depot along with a number of locomotives normally in storage or awaiting overhaul such as recent arrivals A 423 and WAB 800.

A vintage Bell helicopter in mobile army surgical hospital colours as used in the Korean war was giving rides.

The unit has been valuable for volunteers when preparing for major events at the railway or excursions away with the GVR's national network fleet.

The box used to stand in the former Auckland yards, near Gladstone Rd, on the location where the current North Island Main Trunk line now passes to go towards Britomart Transport Centre.

Most vehicles are the traditional narrow-bodied A series wooden carriages, turned out in a red livery, featuring opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end.

Excursions have seen them tour all around New Zealand, including to Gisborne, New Plymouth, Whakatāne, Bay of Islands, Wellington, Christchurch, Arthurs Pass and Timaru.

Turned out in the original Glenbrook Vintage Railway livery of yellow bodies, white ceilings and chocolate lining, the fleet consists of the following vehicles... Four carriages built in the early 20th century for the (then) newly opened North Island Main Trunk express services, before being relocated onto Auckland commuter train services post war through to retirement in the early 1970s: These carriages are fully certified for operations on the KiwiRail network, and the original "drop toilets" have been upgraded with chemical retention holding tanks.

Generator and Luggage Van AG49 is currently on lease from KiwiRail and is intended to be used to power GVR's AO carriage fleet.

[15] The Railway Enthusiasts Society purchased 9x SA and 4x SD carriages in 2021 for their future charter and tourism needs, which were tested and certified in order to be hauled north from Taumarunui to storage in Mission Bush near Glenbrook in August 2024.

[16] They were used in sets of four, five, or six with DC, DCP, DFT, or DFB locomotives until 2014/15 as they were phased out as the Auckland Suburban network was electrified: Along with these passenger carriages, it is expected that water support wagon UC 686, steam locomotives JA 1250, WW 480, and WW 644 will also be certified for KiwiRail network operations in the future.

The set includes a full rake of ballast wagons and plough van, which have been used during large-scale works such as the Waiuku Extension and major track renewal.