A very warm welcome Dieseldude from a very cold England. You really do live in a lovely country; I have great memories of 2 visits:
1n 1976, (like you) I was woken by an early train passing close to my sleeping quarters, but that was the nearest I got to a train on that trip.
My next visit was in 2005 which was great because I got a ride on the Trans-Alpine to Arthur’s Pass, which must be one of the most scenic train journeys in the World:
http://www.railwayforum.net/gallery/...imageuser=4090
Let's have lots of pic's from the Bay of Islands Railway and any others you are able to visit.