Dalefield railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dalefield
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| New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) regional rail |
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| Location | Hodders Road, Carterton, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°2′12.05″S 175°29′26.08″E / 41.0366806°S 175.4905778°E |
| Owned by | Railways Department |
| Line(s) | Wairarapa Line |
| Platforms | Single side |
| Tracks | Main (x1) Loop siding (x1) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 November 1880 |
| Closed | 1 February 1981 |
| Previous names | Arnold's Line |
Dalefield railway station was a train stop in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand's North Island. It was located near the small farming area of Dalefield, just south of Carterton. This station was part of the Wairarapa Line, a railway track connecting different towns.
The station opened in 1880 and served the community for over 100 years. It finally closed its doors in 1981.
History of Dalefield Station
Station Features
Dalefield station opened on November 1, 1880. This was the same day the railway line between Woodside and Masterton began operating. At first, the station had very few facilities. It had a simple shelter shed for people waiting for trains. There was also a short loop siding, which was an extra track. Trains could use this siding to let other trains pass or to park wagons.
Around 1910, there were worries about farm animals getting onto the tracks. This was because a bridge south of the station was changed for train shunting. Shunting is when trains move wagons around. The road through the station yard had gates, but people often left them open. This made it easy for animals to escape.
In 1912, local officials suggested changes to make the station safer. They wanted to shorten the loop siding and add "cattle stops." Cattle stops are special grids that animals can't cross. This would allow the road to stay open without needing gates.
Local farmers also met with the railway department in 1912. They found it hard to load and unload goods. For example, cheese had to be carried across the siding to the platform. Goods arriving by train also had to be moved from the platform to carts. They asked for a special loading area called a "cart dock." They also wanted a road leading to the back of the platform. This request was approved later that year.
By 1914, none of these improvements had been made. There was a discussion about moving the whole station further north. However, it was decided not to move it. So, the plans for the cart dock and approach road went ahead. Just two years later, in 1916, the station yard was reorganized. This included changing the loop siding and moving the platform and station building.
In 1930, local farmers asked for a "loading bank." This is a raised platform used to load and unload goods, especially livestock. Farmers had to drive their animals all the way to Carterton to load them onto trains. A local horse trainer also said a loading bank at Dalefield would be very helpful for his business.
The railway department approved building a loading bank on April 28, 1930. It was built with a timber front and ramps at both ends. It was about 2 feet 10 inches high and 20 feet long. The loading bank was finished quickly, by May 29, 1930. This was just in time for important local shows.
By 1959, the tracks for the loop siding needed to be replaced. There was talk about closing the siding completely. However, the main user, a dairy company, still needed it for shipping. So, the siding was kept open, and the tracks were replaced.
How Trains Ran
Dalefield was always a small station. But it was important for local businesses. It served an early sawmill and the nearby dairy factory. Sometimes, trains would cross paths at Dalefield. This means one train would wait on the siding while another passed on the main track. This practice stopped when bigger stations got more modern signal systems.
At first, two mixed trains ran through Dalefield every weekday. Mixed trains carried both passengers and freight. This schedule lasted for many years. There were no regular passenger-only trains, except for special holiday trips. Dalefield was a "flag station." This meant trains only stopped if someone needed to get on or off, or if there were goods to pick up or drop off.
In 1897, the Wairarapa Line was finished all the way to Woodville. This allowed a famous train called the "Napier Mail" to use the line. This train connected Wellington to Napier. Later, in 1909, the Napier Mail went back to its original route. After that, the main passenger train through Wairarapa was the "Wairarapa Mail."
In 1936, new, faster trains called "Wairarapa-type railcars" were introduced. These railcars made travel much quicker for passengers from Dalefield. The Wairarapa Mail passenger trains continued to run. But in 1944, they ran only three times a week instead of six. This was because of a big shortage of coal. The Wairarapa Mail train service was completely stopped in 1948.
A few years later, the Remutaka Tunnel opened. This tunnel changed train travel in the Wairarapa. It meant the mixed trains and the Wairarapa-type railcars were no longer needed. Newer, "twin-set railcars" took their place. In 1959, Dalefield was still listed as a "stops if required" station for these new railcars.
Dalefield station stayed open for both passengers and freight until it closed on February 1, 1981.
What's Left Today
Today, there is nothing left of the Dalefield railway station. The station building, the platform, the loading bank, and the loop siding have all been removed.
