Raetihi Branch
Raetihi Branch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Closed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini |
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Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator(s) | New Zealand Railways Department | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 1917 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closed | 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 13.7 km (8.5 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of tracks | Single | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Character | Rural | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Raetihi Branch was a
Construction
A combination of political pressure and the economic potential of the forestry in the
Stations
The following stations were located on the Raetihi Branch (in brackets is the distance from Ohakune):
- Rochfort (3 km) - shelter shed, platform, 20 ft (6.1 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, passing loop and, from 1924, telephone[9]
- Makaranui (8 km) - from 1907 to 1914 referred to as Toanui[9]
- Pakihi (11 km)
- Raetihi (13 km)
Operation
The line fulfilled its intended purpose to carry
By the late 1950s, timber traffic had declined sharply, and road transport was creating strong competition for the branch line. From 1965 speed was limited to 15 mph (24 km/h),[10] because maintenance on the line had been deferred, as it was not seen as a necessity or financially justifiable, but as repairs became more necessary, the line's future was put under review in 1967. Financial losses had been steadily increasing, and the review called for closure of the line. Accordingly, this took place on 1 January 1968.[1]
Today
Two significant relics from the Raetihi Branch still exist. The Raetihi station building has been relocated from its old site to a new location in the town and has been restored as part of the
See also
- Marton-New Plymouth Line
- North Island Main Trunk
- Castlecliff Branch
- Foxton Branch
- Toanui Branch
- Whanganui Branch
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 129.
- ^ "RANGATAUA. WANGANUI HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 April 1908. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "MANAWATU TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 November 1911. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "The start of a new railway: Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, turns the first sod of the Ohakune-Raetihi line". www.aucklandcity.govt.nz. 29 February 1912. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Linking up the back blocks with the North Island Main Trunk Railway systems: the Minister for Public Works addressing the gathering at the turning of the first sod of the Ohakune-Raetihi railway". www.aucklandcity.govt.nz. 29 February 1912. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "THE WEEK. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 February 1912. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "PUBLIC WORKS. OTAGO DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 November 1913. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Leitch & Scott 1995, p. 27.
- ^ a b "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ^ "Two Branch Lines To Close. Press". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 22 October 1965. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Leitch & Scott 1995, p. 29.
- ^ Leitch & Scott 1995, p. 30.
Bibliography
- Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
- Hermann, Bruce J; North Island Branch Lines p 44 (2007, New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, Wellington) ISBN 978-0-908573-83-7
- Leitch, David; Scott, Brian (1995). Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways (1998 ed.). Wellington: Grantham House. ISBN 1-86934-048-5.
- Mulligan, Barbara (2000). New Zealand Rail Trails: A Guide to 42 Ghost Lines. Wellington: Grantham House Publishing. pp. 47–50. ISBN 978-1-86934-126-8.