Rain or shine, Tauranga model railway enthusiast Ted Bain could always be relied on as the friendly ticket-seller at Memorial Park's Palmerville Station every Sunday.

Ted, who clocked up almost 30 years' involvement in the club, died on August 19 aged 84.

During the years Tauranga model railway enthusiast Ted Bain was a familiar face to thousands of children as Memorial Park's station ticket-seller.

'He would always be there selling tickets,” says Tauranga Marine and Model Engineering Club immediate past secretary Owen Bennett.

'He'd have to be in hospital to stop him coming; that's just the type of person he was.”

Along with being a well-liked, familiar face in his peaked cap for the hundreds of children and families riding the train every weekend, Owen describes Ted – who was restricted to a mobility scooter due to MS – as popular and well-respected by all club members.

'He would sit there all day and would never complain.”

Fellow long-time member Ron Salisbury says Ted had also put his practical knack into building some of the club's ‘ride cars' which are still being used as carriages today.

Ted also carved the club's logo and station name on the clubhouse.

'He could make or do anything with his hands, with timber or metal,” says Ron.

Only last month fellow member Murray de Lues convinced Ted to join them on the train to ride over the newly-completed viaduct – and his smile said it all.

'I'm very happy I insisted he ride a train over the new viaduct. He had a grin like a kid on their first ride,” says Murray.

Originally from Dunedin, Ted worked at the Ministry of Works on South Island projects before first shifting to Tauranga in 1971.

Daughter Shirley Bain, who with sister Valerie lives in Tauranga, says Ted was a warm and caring man who never complained or said a bad word about anyone.

'He was always a fix-it man. He built a caravan and my horse float, so I think it was that practical side of it that attracted him to the railway group; and he had a friend involved.”

Shirley also describes Ted as a family man, who loved spending time with family members. Ted's family included Auckland-based daughter, late son Derrick and late wife Eileen.