There was a week of celebratory activities to mark Palmerston North's beginning as a Borough in 1877. On Wednesday 19 March a scene depicted the arrival of the first train from Wellington at the site of the original train station in The Square. Mr. H.A. Carruthers, driver and his fireman Mr B. Lark are seen in the engine. The locomotive belongs to the WA Class, one of the earliest types of tank locomotives and was constructed at the Hillside workshops. It is unlikely the engine was identical to those in use when the railway was opened.