Ashhurst railway station

Ashhurst Railway Station exists on the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line between Palmerston North and the Manawatū Gorge serving the town of Ashhurst. The station existed as a flag-stop station before being made a formal stop in 1892. The station was sold in 1980 and the buildings and facilities were demolished in 1981, being replaced by a simple concrete shelter (similar to a bus shelter).[1] The station was closed in 2001. No regular passenger service uses the line and there are no-longer any structures at the station; only the abandoned platform remains.

Ashhurst
New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR)
regional rail
The station in 2021, showing the barren platform
General information
LocationYork Street, Ashhurst
Coordinates40°17′49″S 175°45′04″E / 40.296934°S 175.751024°E / -40.296934; 175.751024
Elevation72 m (236 ft)
Line(s)Palmerston North–Gisborne Line
PlatformsSingle
TracksMainline (1)
Loop (1)
Construction
Structure typeNone
History
Opened4 March 1891
Closed9 October 1983 (freight)
7 October 2001 (passengers)
Rebuilt1981
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Whakarongo
Line open,
station closed
7.31 km (4.54 mi)
  Palmerston North - Gisborne Line
KiwiRail
  Woodville
Line open,
station closed
13.8 km (8.6 mi)
Notes
Previous Station: Whakarongo Station
Next Station: The Gorge Station

In the 1937-38 financial year, the passenger count was totaled at 7,924.[2]

A number of Railway Cottages were built to the north of the Station on the Manawatu Scenic Route Road level crossing. One of which proved to cause poor visibility at the level crossing and was recommended for removal. The Ashhurst over-bridge was later constructed.[3] As of 2022, three 1920s-scheme houses remain alongside a railway house of the 1930s-50 schemes.

Just over a kilometre east of the station, the line crosses the Pohangina River[4] on a 224 m (735 ft) bridge (No.5),[5] of 8 x 80 ft (24 m) girders,[6] built between 1888[7] and 1890.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ashhurst Railway Station".
  2. ^ "Railway Revenue". Vol. 63, no. 203. MANAWATU TIMES. 29 August 1938. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2022. The Ashhurst station handled 7924 passengers, earning a revenue of £611, which goods freight brought to a total of £4685
  3. ^ "ASHHURST LEVEL CROSSING". Vol. LV, no. 7217. MANAWATU TIMES. 15 May 1930. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. ^ "KiwiRail Network Map". kiwirail.maps.arcgis.com. November 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. ^ "KiwiRail Bridges". data-kiwirail.opendata.arcgis.com. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Pohangina River Railway Bridge". manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Feilding Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 August 1888. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  8. ^ "PROFESSIONALISM. Wanganui Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 March 1890. Retrieved 30 April 2023.