Brightwater railway station facts for kids

The Brightwater railway station was a train station in the small town of Brightwater, located in the Tasman District of New Zealand. It was found on State Highway 6, between the towns of Richmond and Wakefield. This station was one of 25 along the Nelson Section railway line. It operated from 1876 until 1955.

The station had a wooden building, a platform, and a goods shed for storing items. It also featured a passing loop (where trains could pass each other) and a rail siding (a short track for parking trains). There was a house for the station master and a windmill to pump water.

Near the station, the railway line crossed Ellis Street and Lord Rutherford Road. On the other side of Ellis Street, there was a large store and a sawmill.

Station History

Building the Railway

The first part of the Nelson Section railway line was built from Stoke to Foxhill. This included the Brightwater railway station. The station officially opened on January 29, 1876. It opened along with the first completed section of the line, which ran from Nelson to Foxhill.

Station Staff and Changes

Brightwater was originally a staffed station, meaning it had a station master. However, in 1888, the station master's job was removed due to staff cuts. After that, Brightwater became an unmanned flag station. This meant trains would only stop if someone flagged them down. Even without a station master, other railway staff, like track workers, still used the station master's house.

The station building also had a Post & Telegraph Office inside. This office moved out in 1887. Until 1948, morning trains would often cross paths at Brightwater station.

The Lime Crushing Plant

In 1946, a company called W. L. Lawry Ltd rented land next to the station. They built a second plant there to crush lime. This new plant meant the railway needed to extend its tracks. A private rail siding was added to reach the crushing plant.

The plant started bagging crushed lime in September 1946. About 20% of the lime was sent by train to Nelson. Later, in the 1950s, the company wanted to switch to sending lime in bulk, not in bags. They asked the railway to provide special loading equipment. The railway wanted a promise that large amounts of lime would be shipped. By the time a special tractor was provided in 1955, it was too late to help save the railway line.

Station Condition and Windmill

In 1949, a group called the Nelson Progress League visited the station. They were trying to get the government to invest more money in the railway. The station master's house was in poor condition. This visit led to the house being repaired and repainted.

A windmill was built at the station in 1896. It was used to pump water from a well into a large tank. This water was then used to fill up the steam locomotives. The windmill was used until the late 1940s. After that, an electric pump took its place.

Final Closure

Brightwater station closed for three days in June 1954. It reopened because the Nelson Section railway line was given a short extension. However, the station closed permanently on September 3, 1955. This was because the entire Nelson Section railway line was shut down.

Brightwater Today

The area where the Brightwater station and lime plant used to be is now a housing area. The lime plant was sold in the late 1970s and closed completely in the early 1980s.

South of the old station, part of the railway line's path is now used by State Highway 6.