Carterton railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carterton
Metlink regional rail
Location	Wheatstone Street, Carterton, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°1′18″S 175°31′23.89″E / 41.02167°S 175.5233028°E / -41.02167; 175.5233028
Elevation	78 metres (256 ft)
Owned by	Greater Wellington Regional Council
Operated by	Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society (lessee)
Line(s)	Wairarapa Line
Distance	76.6 kilometres (47.6 mi) from Wellington
Platforms	Single side
Tracks	1 main line 1 crossing loop (lifted 2007) 3 road / loop sidings 2 back-shunts (lifted) Loading bank siding Stock yard siding (lifted) Back road siding (partly lifted)
Train operators	Transdev Wellington
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes, limited
Architectural style	"Vogel era" Special Class (gable)
Other information
Station code	CART
Fare zone	13
History
Opened	1 November 1880
Closed	13 October 1986 (freight)
Traffic
Passengers (2012)	>358 passengers/day
Services
Preceding station   Transdev Wellington   Following station Solway toward Masterton Wairarapa Connection Matarawa toward Wellington

Carterton railway station is a train station in Carterton, New Zealand. It is an important stop on the Wairarapa Line. This line connects Carterton to bigger cities like Wellington and Masterton.

The station is about 76.6 kilometers (47.6 miles) north of Wellington. It is also 14.4 kilometers (8.9 miles) south of Masterton. The Wairarapa Connection train stops here many times each day. It carries passengers to and from Wellington and Masterton.

Carterton station has one platform where people get on and off trains. This platform is long enough for a seven-car train. The station building is very old, built in 1879-80. It still has its original freight yard and a loading area. Even though freight trains no longer use it, the station building has a ticket office. You can buy tickets there before trains leave for Wellington. Old train cars are also kept in the yard.

The Carterton Railway Museum is inside the station building. The Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society runs it. You can visit the museum every Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

History of Carterton Railway Station

Early Days and Opening

Building the station and homes for railway workers started in May 1880. The station master's house was built first. The main station building followed a month or two later.

The very first train left Carterton on July 5, 1880. It was a special train carrying timber. Three months later, on October 11, 1880, the station began accepting goods. The first goods train went to Masterton two days after that.

The first train carrying passengers ran on October 30, 1880. The railway line between Woodside and Masterton, including Carterton station, officially opened on November 1, 1880.

Station Features in the Past

In 1884, Carterton station had a five-room building. It also had a large goods shed, about 60 by 30 feet. There were also water facilities for trains. Before 1890, special yards for cattle and sheep were added. A loading bank was also built to help load goods.

The station had three loops for holding wagons. These loops could hold 56, 23, and 9 wagons. There was also a road for the goods shed that could hold 9 wagons. Another siding behind it could hold 32 wagons.

In 1884, Carterton station was very busy. It sold 6,530 passenger tickets. It handled 13,610 tons of goods leaving the station. It also received 1,583 tons of goods. About 20,875 animals, mostly sheep, were moved through the station. Most of these animals were sent out from Carterton.

Changes Over Time

Carterton was a "manned station" until 1989. This means railway staff worked there every day. After 1989, the staff positions were removed. This led to the station buildings not being looked after as well. Because of this, the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society was formed.

In the late 1980s, the goods shed was taken away. Some unused tracks that helped organize trains were also removed. The Society has worked hard to save old station buildings. They moved the Waingawa station building in the early 1990s. They also moved the Clareville station. Both are now next to the loading bank in the Carterton Station Yard.

What's Next for Carterton Station?

The New Zealand government announced a plan in January 2020. It's called the New Zealand Upgrade Programme. As part of this plan, a new "passing loop" will be built at Carterton. A passing loop is an extra section of track. It lets trains going in opposite directions pass each other without stopping. This helps trains run more smoothly and on time.

Train Services at Carterton

The Wairarapa Connection train runs often from Carterton.

• From Monday to Thursday, there are five trains each way.
• On Fridays, there are six trains each way.
• On Saturdays and Sundays, there are two trains each way.

Sometimes, special trips happen from the station. These include fun excursions like the "Daffodil Express" and the "Tararua Tourer." These trips are often run by a group called Mainline Steam.

Gallery

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  Station from yard, 2006.

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  Four-wheel goods van and stock wagon, 2006

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  Heritage rolling stock, 2006

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  Platform looking north-east, 2006

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  Platform looking south-west, 2006

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  Loading Bank, 2006

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  Waingawa railway station, beside Loading Bank, 2006

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  Museum and Restoration Society sign as viewed 2006

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  Museum and Restoration Society Sign as viewed 2008

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  Wairarapa Connection at Carterton, DCP4818 and SW set, 2007

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  DC4605 at Carterton station with Wairarapa Connection, 2007

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  Carterton railway station, 2007

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  Carterton railway station at night, 2007

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  Carterton railway station, 2007

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  Waingawa railway station, 2008