Mangaweka railway station

Mangaweka railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT), serving the village of Mangaweka in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The original station opened in 1902 and closed on 15 November 1981.[1][2][3] A new station then opened to the east,[4] on the Mangaweka deviation on 18 November 1981, though only for parcels, small lots, and as a passing loop,[5] which still remains.[6]

Mangaweka railway station
Mangaweka railway station about 1902
General information
LocationNew Zealand
Coordinates39°49′16″S 175°46′31″E / 39.821179°S 175.77522°E / -39.821179; 175.77522
Elevation327 m (1,073 ft)
Line(s)North Island Main Trunk
DistanceWellington 231.04 km (143.56 mi)
History
Opened3 November 1902
ClosedPassengers 18 April 1971
Goods before 1993
ElectrifiedJune 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Utiku
Line open, station closed
12.65 km (7.86 mi)
  North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
  Ōhingaiti
Line open, station closed
8.9 km (5.5 mi)

The station was important as the terminus of the line from Wellington from 1902 to 1904.

History edit

An advert for timber for the station building was placed on 13 December 1901.[7] Dates from 3 July to 30 August 1902 are mentioned for opening goods traffic to Mangaweka and 30 October for inspection of the 9 mi 20 ch (14.9 km) line from Mangaonoho to Mangaweka. New Zealand Railways (NZR) took the line over from the Public Works Department on Monday, 3 November 1902, when the stationmaster was transferred from Ōhingaiti to Mangaweka and the station was noted as having a passenger platform, 84 wagon passing loop, privies, urinals, goods shed 72 ft (22 m) by 42 ft (13 m), loading bank, sheep and cattle yards, water service (one 2,000 gallon vat), coal shed 24 ft (7.3 m) by 16 ft (4.9 m), engine shed 72 ft 6 in (22.10 m) by 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m), with a 59 ft (18 m) long pit, and stationmaster's house. On 1 November 1904 a cart approach and crane were also mentioned and a warehouse crane and stockyard upgrade came in 1913.[5]

Dates for the extension northwards are also varied. 9 June to 4 August 1904 are given for when the 7 mi 75 ch (12.8 km) extension from Mangaweka to Utiku opened for goods. Passenger trains started running to Taihape on Friday, 12 August 1904, though it wasn't until Tuesday, 1 November 1904 when NZR took over the 12 mi 76 ch (20.8 km) Mangaweka to Taihape section.[5]

In 1957 the passing loop was extended and motor points and colour light signals installed.[5]

When passenger trains stopped calling from Sunday, 18 April 1971, much of the station building had been demolished, though in 1980 a station building, goods shed, loading bank, and 1½ ton crane remained. A new station opened on Wednesday, 18 November 1981,[5] but closed before 1993.[1]

 
Mangaweka tunnel south portal

Tunnel edit

Tunnel 10 on the NIMT is Mangaweka.[8] The 600 yd (550 m) tunnel was completed in January 1898, when it was known as Powhakaroa Tunnel.[9] Its northern portal is just south of Mangaweka and its southern end is near Pouwhakaura.[10] It is lined with concrete blocks, which were made in a nearby temporary shed.[11]

 
tickets sales 1903–1950 – derived from annual returns to Parliament of "Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended"

Station operation edit

Mangaweka was one of the stopping points for NIMT expresses in 1910[12] and still in 1932.[13] In 1931 the station was staffed by a grade 6 stationmaster and clerk and a grade 7 relief clerk.[14] It still had 3 staff in 1941.[15]

Mangaweka had its annual returns of traffic recorded, as did Utiku to the north and Ōhingaiti to the south.[16] Passenger numbers grew whilst the station was the terminus of the line and during the World War 2, before tailing off towards 1950, as shown in the graph and table below.

year tickets season tickets staff ref.
1903 6662 1 1 [17]
1904 19,054 9 [18]
1905 17125 2 4 [19]
1906 9614 46 4 [20]
1907 8868 47 4 [21]
1908 9730 24 4 [22]
1909 8949 9 4 [23]
1910 7449 4 [24]
1911 7218 2 4 [25]
1912 7589 4 [26]
1913 7669 11 5 [27]
1914 7347 8 [28]
1915 7054 9 [29]
1916 7128 21 [30]
1917 7049 44 [31]
1918 7128 42 [32]
1919 6673 15 [33]
1920 6030 14 [34]
1921 6809 17 [35]
1922 6115 12 [36]
1923 6128 20 [37]
1924 5748 11 [38]
1925 5192 29 [39]
1926 5549 13 [40]
1927 5031 4 [41]
1928 4664 10 [42]
1929 6460 8 [43]
1930 6821 7 [44]
1931 8450 15 3 [45]
1932 4926 15 [46]
1933 4494 12 [47]
1934 4828 7 [48]
1935 4792 9 [49]
1936 4890 7 [50]
1937 5987 6 [51]
1938 5724 51 [52]
1939 4887 50 [53]
1940 3919 27 [54]
1941 4067 30 [55]
1942 5126 38 [56]
1943 6593 37 [57]
1944 7282 18 [58]
1945 6630 15 [59]
1946 6114 19 [60]
1947 3944 8 [61]
1948 2570 16 [62]
1949 3214 15 [63]
1950 2859 12 [64]

Incidents edit

A slip derailed a locomotive at the entrance to the tunnel in 1913.[65] A goods train derailed, breaking several trucks and some track, in a cutting on the Mangaweka side of Mangaweka Viaduct in 1930.[66][67]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand
  2. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  3. ^ Pierre, Bill (1981). North Island Main Trunk. Wellington: A.H&A.W Reed. pp. 289–290. ISBN 0589013165.
  4. ^ "1:63360 map Sheet: N139 Mangaweka". www.mapspast.org.nz. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Manawatu Scenic Rte". Google Maps. July 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. ^ "WANGANUI HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 December 1901. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. ^ "KiwiRail Network Map". kiwirail.maps.arcgis.com. November 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Public Works Statement by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works 27th September, 1898". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Pouwhakaura, Manawatu-Wanganui". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Public Works Statement by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works 12th September, 1899". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Feilding Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 15 December 1910. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Huntly Press and District Gazette". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 March 1932. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  14. ^ "List of Persons Employed in the Railways· Department on the 1st April, 1931" (PDF). The New Zealand Gazette.
  15. ^ "List of Persons Employed in the Railways· Department on the 1st April, 1941" (PDF). The New Zealand Gazette. 18 September 1941.
  16. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1923". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  17. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1903". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  18. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1904". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  19. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1905". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  20. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1906". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  21. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1907". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  22. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1908". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  23. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1909". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  24. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1910". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  25. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1911". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  26. ^ "RETURN No. 11". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  27. ^ "RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1913". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  28. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1914". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  29. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1915". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  30. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1916". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  31. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1917". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  32. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1918". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  33. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1919". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  34. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1920". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  35. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1921". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  36. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1922". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  37. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1923". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  38. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1924". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  39. ^ "RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1925". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  40. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1926". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  41. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1927". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  42. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1928". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  43. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1929". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  44. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1930". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  45. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1931". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  46. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1932". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  47. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  48. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  49. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1935". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  50. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1936". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  51. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1937". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  52. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1938". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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  54. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  55. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  56. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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  60. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  61. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  62. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  63. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  64. ^ "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  65. ^ "LANDSLIPS ON THE MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY: THE OHINGAITI TUNNEL. NEAR MANGAWEKA, SHOWING AN ENGINE DERAILED BY A FALL OF EARTH. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 October 1913. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  66. ^ "TRAIN WRECKED ON THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE LAST WEEK". www.aucklandcity.govt.nz. 10 September 1930. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  67. ^ "MANGAWEKA SMASH. MANAWATU STANDARD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 September 1930. Retrieved 17 January 2021.