Whanganui had three railway stations -
All trace of the stations has gone, though most of the railway remains in use for freight.
There has also been a miniature railway station at Tot Town [1] in Kowhai Park [2] since 1963. [3]
Whanganui, Castlecliff Railway Co. | |||||||||||
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General information | |||||||||||
Elevation | 3 m (9.8 ft) | ||||||||||
Line(s) | Castlecliff Branch | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 31 October 1885 | ||||||||||
Closed | passengers April 1932 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
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The Wanganui Heads, or later, Castlecliff Railway Company had a station in Whanganui on Taupo Quay from 1885. It closed to passengers in 1932 and was demolished in 1963.
In 1882 the Heads company had plans for a station near the junction with the Whanganui branch, with an engine shed, coal store, store room, goods shed, office, lobby, ladies waiting room and urinal. In 1883 the company agreed to alterations, but it was noted, "General Manager does not approve of connecting the Wanganui Heads Ry with the Foxton – Wanganui Ry", [4] possibly because the PWD thought it should be government owned. [5] On Monday, 4 August 1884 the first sod of the railway was turned [6] and a temporary siding took sleepers and rails to stack on a reserve. The first passengers were carried in wagons on 3 April 1885 and by July 1885 the line was complete, with a certificate of inspection issued on 29 September 1885. NZR supplied a 4-wheel composite coach for the line and allowed trains to use their station at weekends. Weekday trains stopped opposite Murray's Foundry, [4] where a ticket office and platform were built in December 1885. [7] In 1897 the company asked to extend their platform on Taupo Quay. [4] It was reported in 1900 that the main station would be shared, [8] but it still was not. From 1901 67 ch (1.3 km) of the line from Wanganui was realigned to take it off the road, [4] work which was finished in 1903, [9] when a new station, built by Russell and Bignall, [10] opened on 4 May 1903, opposite the gasworks. [11] On 1 February 1956 the line was taken over by NZR. In May 1961 the line was again moved to run in a subway below the government funded motorway to Cobham Bridge, which opened on 18 November 1961. [12] By contrast, in the next month the railway on the north breakwater at Castlecliff was replaced by a road. In 1963 the 1903 station was demolished. [4]
St John's railway station | |||||||||||
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General information | |||||||||||
Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | ||||||||||
Line(s) | Wanganui Branch | ||||||||||
Distance | Marton 45.18 km (28.07 mi) | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 1 February 1881 | ||||||||||
Closed | 28 March 1960 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
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St John's was a flag station, which served the St Johns Hill suburb until 1960. [4] It was at the corner of Peat Street and London Street. [13] There was possibly an earlier station named Havelock.
A record dated 27 April 1878 said an engine derailed at facing points at Havelock station on the Wanganui-Patea railway. [4] A Fairlie locomotive was derailed that day. [14] The station may have opened when trains started running on the Wanganui Town Branch to Turakina on 21 January 1878, but Havelock was not shown in the timetable. [15] A record indicates Havelock closed in 1881; [16] St John's was first shown in the timetable from 1 February 1881, with two trains a day to both Palmerston North and Waverley. [17]
A 7th class station 1 mi 51 ch (2.6 km) from Wanganui was proposed in 1877, when a contract for a station was reported as signed. However, in 1882 a shelter shed was proposed and by 1896 St Johns had a shelter shed, platform and cart approach. In 1900 latrines and a verandah were considered and in 1915 lighting. A trolley line ran across London Street, allowing the Fresh Food Co. [4] to move churns of cream and its butter and cheese to and from the platform from 1912 [18] to 1935. [19] St John's closed to all traffic on Monday, 28 March 1960 and on 23 July tenders were invited for removal of the building. [4]
Whanganui railway station | |||||||||||
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General information | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 39°56′17″S175°03′11″E / 39.938°S 175.053°E | ||||||||||
Elevation | 3 m (9.8 ft) | ||||||||||
Owned by | New Zealand Railways Department | ||||||||||
Line(s) | Wanganui Branch | ||||||||||
Distance | Marton 47.88 km (29.75 mi) | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 21 January 1878 | ||||||||||
Closed | passengers 7 September 1959 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
|
The station opened with the Whanganui Town Branch on 21 January 1878. [15] The Aramoho to Turakina railway had opened on 17 May 1877 [20] and had two trains a day from 18 May. [21] The line to Marton opened on 4 February 1878. [4] From 5 May 1880, Whanganui had three trains a day to Palmerston North and two to Kai Iwi, [22] though the line to Kai Iwi did not officially open until 16 September 1880. [23]
The first work on the railway was a 1 July 1875 contract with Calman & Richardson to build a wharf for £788-16s. By 26 October 1875 James Moore Edwards had built an open ended shed for two engines. By 3 November 1875 there was a store room and office and by 25 December 1875 the wharf was ready. By 1 February 1877 G M Chalmers had built a temporary station on an unused bit of Churton Street. [4] On 19 July 1877 William Rowe got a £4795.6.8 contract to build Wanganui Town Branch, which was finished by 4 November 1877. In 1877 and 1878 housing and offices for a stationmaster and public works (PWD) staff were bought and a 50-ton coal store built. [4]
The station was 2 mi 76 ch (4.7 km) from Aramoho Junction, 58 mi 54 ch (94.4 km) from Hāwera, 62 mi 74 ch (101.3 km) from New Plymouth and 85 mi 30 ch (137.4 km) from Foxton. [4]
By 1896 there was a special station, platform, cart approach, stationmaster's house and urinals. [4] Fixed signals were added by 1898 and there was a trial of Sykes' block signals to Aramoho in 1899. In 1945 a new signal box was built near the end of the platform. [4]
There was a turntable by 1911. [4] In 1989 the 21.3 m (70 ft) turntable on Taupo Quay was disconnected, [24] but it has been restored by SteamRail Wanganui, [25] which has a shed on the wharf. [26]
A February 1878 plan, to extend the station and add a cloak room and booking clerks office, [4] was dropped by April 1878, as the Churton Street station was temporary and a much more extended station was envisaged on Ridgway Street. On 24 November 1880 tenders were invited for a further goods shed and station buildings. [27] By 9 April 1881 James Tawse had built a 100 ft (30 m) x 42 ft (13 m) goods shed and extended and moved the station buildings. [4] [28] Tenders for the station were invited in July 1881 [29] and it was built by 25 November 1881. [4] In 1882 a verandah was added to the station. In 1885 an estimate was made of the cost of lighting the station with gas. Telephones were connected from 21 November 1885 at the station and wharf, in 1886 at the PWD office, District Manager's office, and East Town Workshops, the District Engineer in 1897, the Foreman of Works and District Manager's house 1898, the stationmaster's house 1899 and the running shed foreman's house in 1901. From 1 January 1940, a teleprinter linked Whanganui and Wellington. [4]
In 1881 PWD were asked for a carriage washing shed, but it was not until 1893 that a carriage shed was built. In 1910 a concrete stage was added for dining cars. [4]
A new station, opened on 29 April 1901, cost £2,500 to £3,000 and was 18 ft (5.5 m) wide and 187 ft 6in long on the lower storey and 120 ft (37 m) on the upper. The lower had a 15 ft (4.6 m) long guards and porters room, 10 ft (3.0 m) luggage room, 40 ft (12 m) parcels office, 22 ft (6.7 m) booking office, 12 ft (3.7 m) stationmaster's and traffic inspector's offices, 10 ft (3.0 m) clerk's office and 15 ft (4.6 m) ladies' waiting room and lavatories. The Taupo Quay entrance, under a 68 ft (21 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) verandah, had a 25 ft (7.6 m) x 15 ft (4.6 m) general lobby, with seats, a fireplace, 2 ticket windows and a wide, easy graded, staircase. Upstairs a 54 ft (16 m) x 4 ft (1.2 m) corridor lead to the 18 ft (5.5 m) square District Traffic Manager's office, 13.6 ft (4.1 m) x 12.6 ft (3.8 m) records, 7.6 ft (2.3 m) x 7 ft (2.1 m) lavatories, 29.6 ft (9.0 m) x 13.6 ft (4.1 m) telegraph gallery, and 43 ft (13 m) x 18 ft (5.5 m) traffic clerk's office. The platform was enlarged from 68 ft (21 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) to 187 ft (57 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m), with five double incandescent globe lights. [30] To ease the curve at the station approach, the line was moved westwards, from Churton Street [31] to run beside a new Hatrick Street, [32] as from 5 February 1906. [33] There was a bookstall at the station from at least 1902 [34] to 1947. [35] By 1908 the station dealt with 11 trains a day. [36] The area around the station flooded in 1904 [37] and 1940. [38]
Whanganui had its annual returns of traffic recorded, as did Aramoho. Ticket sales reached a peak of 116,843 in 1943, plus 190 season tickets. [39]
This graph shows the variation in passenger numbers from 1881 to 1950 (detail and staff numbers shown in table below):
Year | tickets | season tickets | staff | source | title |
1881 | 23179 | 12 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1881/I/967 | RETURN No. 9. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31 March 1881 | |
1882 | 28436 | 13 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1882/I/825 | RETURN No. 10. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ending 31 March 1882 | |
1883 | 26817 | 14 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1883/I/896 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1883 | |
1884 | 29110 | 15 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1884/I/844 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1884 | |
1885 | 29555 | 31 | 19 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1885/I/1157?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1885 |
1886 | 30427 | 25 | 20 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1886/I/1139?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1886 |
1887 | 28717 | 25 | 13 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1887/I/921?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1887 |
1888 | 24241 | 22 | 15 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1888/I/1011?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1888 |
1889 | 25028 | 33 | 19 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1889/I/1069?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1889 |
1890 | 26929 | 29 | 19 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1890/I/1065?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1890 |
1891 | 25442 | 18 | 20 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1891/II/1264?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1891 |
1892 | 26522 | 23 | 21 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1892/I/1164?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1892 |
1893 | 31354 | 49 | 25 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1893/I/1495?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1893 |
1894 | 29058 | 34 | 27 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1894/I/1388?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1894 |
1895 | 27640 | 53 | 27 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1895/I/1586?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1895 |
1896 | 27768 | 97 | 27 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1896/I/1624?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1896 |
1897 | 27559 | 114 | 29 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1897/II/1611?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1897 |
1898 | 28321 | 95 | 30 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1898/I/1671?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1898 |
1899 | 32452 | 43 | 28 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1899/I/1825?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1899 |
1900 | 33783 | 61 | 40 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/1613?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1900 |
1901 | 0 | Pages 30–35 missing | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1901 | ||
1902 | 53831 | 104 | 41 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1902/I/1437?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1902 |
1903 | 59859 | 93 | 38 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1903/I/1872?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1903 |
1904 | 70181 | 106 | 41 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1904/I/1849?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1904 |
1905 | 76246 | 106 | 43 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/3768?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1905 |
1906 | 78331 | 161 | 44 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1906/II/1601?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1906 |
1907 | 85849 | 163 | 45 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1907/I/2543?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1907 |
1908 | 90636 | 208 | 51, or 45 permanent staff and 30 casual wharf hands [36] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1908/I/2062?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1908 |
1909 | 89521 | 310 | 98 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1909/II/1832?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1909 |
1910 | 83134 | 375 | 96 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1910/I/2051?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1910 |
1911 | 80466 | 392 | 97 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1911/I/2498?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1911 |
1912 | 91476 | 445 | 98 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1912/II/2420?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1912 |
1913 | 97211 | 363 | 59 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/3693?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1913 |
1914 | 93788 | 341 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1914/I/2031?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1914 | |
1915 | 90428 | 356 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1638?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1915 | |
1916 | 88999 | 304 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1053?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1916 | |
1917 | 88853 | 200 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1917/I/1123?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1917 | |
1918 | 89951 | 136 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1159?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1918 | |
1919 | 94261 | 164 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1919/I/1231?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1919 | |
1920 | 94703 | 130 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1920/I/1349?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1920 | |
1921 | 108274 | 105 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1921/I-II/1452?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1921 | |
1922 | 94464 | 126 | 93 [40] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1922/I/1409?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1922 |
1923 | 87000 | 164 | 82 [41] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1321?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1923 |
1924 | 78197 | 156 | 76 [42] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1924/I/2458?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1924 |
1925 | 71993 | 119 | 85 [43] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1925/I/1805?large_image=true | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1925 |
1926 | 76105 | 101 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1926/I/1931?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1926 | |
1927 | 62977 | 76 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1927/I/2231?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1927 | |
1928 | 46706 | 92 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2629?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1928 | |
1929 | 47884 | 143 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2091?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1929 | |
1930 | 44903 | 169 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2213?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1930 | |
1931 | 51545 | 114 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1779?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1931 | |
1932 | 43062 | 113 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1935?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1932 | |
1933 | 43131 | 220 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1389?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1933 | |
1934 | 50335 | 236 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2279?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1934 | |
1935 | 52137 | 317 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1327?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1935 | |
1936 | 53786 | 268 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1553?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1936 | |
1937 | 65505 | 209 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1897?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1937 | |
1938 | 65422 | 230 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1653?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1938 | |
1939 | 60497 | 202 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1971?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1939 | |
1940 | 60768 | 184 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1315?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1940 | |
1941 | 67466 | 166 | 93 [44] | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1204?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1941 |
1942 | 84122 | 149 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/652?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1942 | |
1943 | 116843 | 190 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/680?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1943 | |
1944 | 108724 | 215 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/896?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1944 | |
1945 | 75484 | 226 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/970?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1945 | |
1946 | 82042 | 219 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1549?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1946 | |
1947 | 61913 | 162 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2496?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1947 | |
1948 | 53655 | 85 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2522?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1948 | |
1949 | 44557 | 33 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2105?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1949 | |
1950 | 44394 | 27 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2367?large_image=true | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1950 |
The goods business was as valuable to the railway as the passengers. For example, in 1921 passenger revenue was £50,417 (including £4,852 for parcels and luggage) and goods £50,605. In that year 21,433 tons of minerals, 31,137 tons of general goods, 8,373,600 superficial feet of timber and 304,233 sheep arrived at the station. [45] Most of the sheep would have been destined for the freezing works, which had been built at Castlecliff in 1891. [46]
By March 1878 the station had a goods shed. In 1879 Saunders reclaimed land and built a wharf and McLean built another goods shed. Cattle yards were added in 1880. In 1881 a verandah was added to the goods shed. [4] In 1882 Freeman Jackson had a wool store built beside the station. [47] In 1883 Alexander & McFarlane added to the goods shed for £431-19s-8d. Further improvements were made to the station yard in 1895. By 1896 there was a 180 ft (55 m) x 42 ft (13 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle and sheep yards, hand crane, coal yard and weighbridge. [4] In 1899 several improvements were planned, including a new engine shed and reclamation of the area above the half tide wall, [48] later marked as Government Reclamation on a plan of about 1905. [49] The wharf was extended by 625 ft (191 m) in 1909. [50] [51] By 1914 there was a wagon repair shed. [4] In 1911 the yard was lit and in 1930 electric light was put in the wharf shed. [4]
From 1908 the city trams travelled to Aramoho in 17 minutes [52] and, from 17 October 1912, served Castlecliff. [53] Buses began running to New Plymouth in 1921 and to Wellington in 1925. [54] In 1934 they were bought by Railways Road Motor Service, [55] whose buses ran to Wellington in 4½ to 5 hours; [56] by comparison, from 1933, a 2pm train from Wellington reached Whanganui at 9.12pm, with a change at Palmerston North. [57] On 1 January 1956 the Town Wharf was closed due to competition from Castlecliff, [58] a proposal which had been made as early as 1932. [59] Large crowds greeted a British rugby team when they arrived at the station in August 1959, [60] though regular passenger services had ended on 3 May 1959. [16] In 1959 part of the old wharf shed was demolished and the rest in 1963. In 1961 the station platform was reduced. On Taupo Quay in 1962 a new 250 ft (76 m) x 50 ft (15 m) good shed, 2 storey, 50 ft (15 m) x 40 ft (12 m) goods office and a loading bank were built. In 1963 the 1878 goods office was demolished, 3 floodlight towers were built, 2 of them 120 ft (37 m) high and the other 80 ft (24 m). [4]
A 16,500 sq ft (1,530 m2) district office opened on 1 November 1971 on Taupo Quay, costing $262,989. By August 1976 a new gantry was in use for lifting bulk flour containers and on 7 April 1983 a new Road Services terminal opened. In 1987 the locomotive depot and car & wagon block were demolished and replaced in 1988 by an $8,000 fuel point at East Town. By October 1989 the station, platform and sidings had been removed, [4] replaced by a new site further west on Taupo Quay. [16]
A container terminal replaced Taupo Quay in 2010, linking with Port Taranaki [61] and Centreport. It was formally opened in 2015 [62] and is at 53 Gilberd Street, Castlecliff. [63] The other main traffic is logs. [64] Taupo Quay was redeveloped in the 1990s [65] with shopping, parking and open spaces. [66]
Whanganui, also spelt Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whanganui is the 19th most-populous urban area in New Zealand and the second-most-populous in Manawatū-Whanganui, with a population of 42,800 as of June 2023.
The Raetihi Branch was a branch line railway in the central North Island of New Zealand. It formed part of New Zealand's national rail network and operated from 1917 until 1968.
The Castlecliff Branch is a branch line railway 5.88 km long in the Manawatu-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is an extension of the Wanganui Branch from Taupo Quay in central Whanganui and follows the Whanganui River to Castlecliff on the South Taranaki Bight of the Tasman Sea. From its opening on 31 October 1885 until 1 February 1956 when the NZR took over, it was owned by the Wanganui Heads Railway Company, later renamed the Castlecliff Railway Company. From 5 September 2006 services on the branch were suspended but the infrastructure remained in place. In 2011 KiwiRail resumed services on part of the line.
Helensville railway station formerly served the town of Helensville, 60.47 km (37.57 mi) northwest of Auckland Strand, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was a stop on the North Auckland Line, and was the next major station north of Waitākere. Occasionally it was called the Helensville North Railway Station.
Longburn railway station was a station in Longburn, on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. The platform, which is across from the Fonterra Factory, remains but the structure has been demolished.
Awapuni railway station was a station in Kairanga County, on the Foxton Branch and, from 1908, the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, now in the Palmerston North suburb of Awapuni. It was beside the Mangaone Stream, near its confluence with the Kawau Stream, about 400 m (440 yd) west of Maxwells Line on the north side of Pioneer Highway. Nothing remains of the former station, except a wide verge, partly occupied by a cycleway, built in 2015.
Greatford railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) in New Zealand, south of Marton. It is in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Only a substation and a passing loop remain.
Kakariki railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk and in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
Halcombe railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) in New Zealand, serving the village of Halcombe, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It opened in 1878 and closed in 1983. Originally it was the main intermediate station on the 85 mi 34 ch (137.5 km) Whanganui to Foxton railway. Only a single track remains through the station site, as the passing loops here and at Kakariki were replaced by the Rangitawa loop, 3.03 km (1.88 mi) to the north, on 14 December 1983.
Utiku railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, and in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It opened in 1904 and closed in 1986. It was part of the 13+1⁄2 mi (21.7 km) Mangaweka to Taihape section, officially opened by the Prime Minister, Richard Seddon, on 21 November 1904. It closed in 1986. A passing loop remains.
Ohakune railway station is a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT), which serves the town of Ohakune in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. It is served by KiwiRail's Northern Explorer long distance train between Wellington and Auckland. It was called Ohakune Junction from 10 August 1926 until Raetihi Branch closed in 1968, to avoid confusion with Ohakune Town station on that branch. It was the second highest operating railway station in New Zealand, after National Park.
Feilding railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line in Feilding, New Zealand. It was opened on 1 October 1876 and closed on 25 June 2012. The station is now used by Feilding Information Centre and an occasional excursion train.
Marton railway station was a station and rail junction on the Marton–New Plymouth Line, opened on 4 February 1878. After the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) made a junction to the south of Marton, a new station was built there and the old station renamed and downgraded, in 1898.
Ormondville is a locality in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located inland, south of Waipukurau and west of Flemington, Hawke's Bay.
Castlecliff is a suburb of Whanganui, in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. The name was given by the Harbour Board, on the suggestion of the future Prime Minister, John Ballance, when it established the township on what were described as "barren sandhills" in 1882. Many of the streets were named after Harbour Board members. The northern harbour breakwater extended 900 ft (270 m) by 1885. The freezing works was built in 1891.
Kakahi was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand, serving Kakahi. It formally opened on 9 November 1908. The rails were laid south of Piriaka by May 1904 and a daily ballast train was running by October, which also carried passengers. Kakahi Bridge has five spans of 44 ft (13 m) and one of 23 ft (7.0 m) supplied by G. Fraser & Sons of Auckland, which delayed construction to the south. It crosses the Kakahi Stream, which was sometimes called the Waitea River.
Pokaka was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the small village of Pokaka and lay to the south of Makatote Viaduct, the late completion of which held up opening of the station.
Erua was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the small village of Erua. For a month in 1908 it was the terminus of the line from Auckland. Makatote Viaduct and tramway are about 3 mi (4.8 km) south of Erua.
Makotuku is a locality in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region of New Zealand's North Island, about 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) west of Ormondville.
Kopua in New Zealand is now a sparsely populated area, immediately south of the border of the Manawatū-Whanganui and Hawke's Bay regions, with 150 people scattered over a 40 km2 (15 sq mi) meshblock. For two years it briefly flourished as a village, centred on a railway station on the Palmerston North–Gisborne line, opened on 25 January 1878, when it became the southern terminus of the line from Napier and Spit. Building to the south was delayed by the need to erect 3 large viaducts over the Manawatū River and its tributaries, so the extension to Makotuku didn't open until 9 August 1880. Kopua then declined until the station closed on 8 May 1977. Only a single line now passes through the station site and there are remnants of cattle yards.
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