Eketahuna railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eketahuna
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| New Zealand Government Railways regional rail | |
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| Location | Herbert Street Eketahuna New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 40°38′58.37″S 175°42′23.46″E / 40.6495472°S 175.7065167°E |
| Elevation | 227 metres (745 ft) |
| Owned by |
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| Operated by | Railways Department (1889–1988) |
| Line(s) | Wairarapa Line |
| Distance | 126.82 kilometres (78.80 mi) from Wellington |
| Platforms | single side |
| Tracks | main line (single) |
| Train operators |
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| Construction | |
| Structure type | at-grade |
| Parking | yes |
| History | |
| Opened | 8 April 1889 |
| Closed |
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| Key dates | |
| 10 May 2014 | re-opened (heritage rail operators only) |
The Eketahuna railway station was an important stop on the Wairarapa Line. This railway line runs through the Wairarapa region of New Zealand's North Island. The station was located in the small town of Eketahuna. It sat between the stations of Mangamahoe to the south and Newman to the north. Eketahuna was one of the few stations in the northern part of the line that always had staff working there.
When the station opened in 1889, Eketahuna was the end of the Wairarapa Line. It remained a key station for the farms and businesses around it. The station closed completely in 1988. This happened because local roads improved, and fewer people used the passenger train services.
Contents
History of the Station
How the Station Operated
The Early Years (1889–1897)
The people of Eketahuna were very excited on 8 April 1889. This was the day the first train arrived in their town. Important people were on the train, including the Minister of Public Works. The train made brief stops at Masterton, Mauriceville, and Mangamahoe. About 400 people welcomed the train as it passed under two special arches. These arches were built just for the occasion.
For a while, Eketahuna was the end of the railway line. This meant the station was very busy. Lots of timber, wool, and butter were sent from here by train. Passengers traveling north had to switch to horse-drawn coaches. They would continue their journeys to places like Woodville and Napier. Hotels near the station, like the Railway Hotel, provided places for travelers to stay.
The Busy Years (1897–1908)
Over eight years, the railway slowly extended north from Wellington. It eventually opened all the way to Woodville. Eketahuna was the end of the line until 1896. After that, it became a regular stop on the main railway line north from Wellington.
Once the full line to Woodville was open, the Napier Express passenger trains changed their route. They started running from Woodville down the Wairarapa Line to Wellington. These trains became known as the Napier Mail. This was the main passenger service through Eketahuna. It ran alongside the mixed trains that had been serving the town.
Timber was the most important type of freight during this time. The areas around Eketahuna were still covered in forests. This provided a lot of work for sawmills. However, a huge fire in 1908 destroyed much of the remaining forest. This greatly reduced the timber trade. After the land was cleared, farming became more important. Agriculture then replaced timber as the main business for the railway. The station also handled other seasonal goods, like fruit.
A Royal Visit (1920)
Edward, the Prince of Wales, was visiting New Zealand in 1920. He was coming to thank people for their help during the Great War. The people of Eketahuna planned a big welcome for him on 5 May 1920. However, they were told the royal train would not stop. It would only slow down as it passed through the station.
Town officials thought the train would have to stop anyway. They believed it needed to stop to get water for the train engine. So, they quickly got ready for a stop. When the train arrived, it stopped at the water tank. This was too far from the platform for anyone to meet the prince.
The prince got off the train and started walking towards the crowd. But the train's departure signal was given very quickly. He had to rush back onto the train as it sped away. Those waiting only got a quick glimpse of the prince. He was standing on the back platform of the last carriage.
Later Years (1908–1988)
In 1908, the government bought the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line. This changed train services in the Wairarapa region. Because of the difficult Rimutaka Incline, much freight from northern Wairarapa went a different way. It was sent north through Woodville and Palmerston North. From there, it went down the Main Trunk Line to Wellington. However, mixed trains continued to run through Eketahuna.
Horses were used for many years to move wagons around the station yard. This was especially true during the busy stock season. They were used up to four times a week at that time.
After the railway line was bought by the government, the Napier Express changed its route. It no longer went through the Wairarapa Line. Instead, the Wairarapa Mail became the main passenger service stopping at Eketahuna. In 1936, new passenger-only trains called Wairarapa-type railcars were introduced. These railcars later replaced the Wairarapa Mail in 1948.
In 1955, the Remutaka Tunnel opened. This led to the Wairarapa railcars being replaced by twinset railcars. These twinset railcars were the main passenger service for Eketahuna for 22 years. By 1959, two northbound and two southbound railcar services stopped at Eketahuna every day. There was an extra service on Fridays. Sometimes, larger trains with engines were used when there were too many passengers for the railcars. These larger trains eventually replaced the railcars completely in 1977. The railway stopped accepting general freight at Eketahuna on 13 October 1986.
One railcar, RM 132, was badly damaged on 24 August 1975. It caught fire between Hukanui and Eketahuna while going to Wellington. All passengers and crew got out safely, but the railcar was destroyed. It was towed to the Eketahuna yard and cut up for scrap metal.
After the railcar services stopped, fewer and fewer people used the passenger trains. This was because roads in the region got much better. Eventually, there were not enough passengers to make the service worthwhile. So, the passenger service between Palmerston North, Masterton, and Wellington was stopped on 1 August 1988. This was the last train service to stop at Eketahuna. Its cancellation meant the station closed completely.
Station Facilities
When the station first opened, it had many facilities because it was the end of the line. These included a station building, a goods shed, and five side tracks. There was also a platform, a loading area, and a water tank. A post office and telegraph office also operated from the station building. Many staff were needed, including a stationmaster, clerks, porters, and train engineers.
In 1960, an inspection found that the station building was old but in good condition. The goods shed was also old but fair. There were also several houses for railway staff.
After Eketahuna stopped handling freight in 1986, the goods shed and loading shelter were removed. The railway tracks were also simplified.
The Platform
The station platform was made of timber. It was extended in 1900 and again in 1906. By 1936, the platform needed urgent repairs, which were done in March. However, it was in poor condition again just two years later. In 1939, it was decided to rebuild the platform. The work involved replacing the front of the platform. Its length was reduced from 420 feet (130 m) to 250 feet (76 m). The height was also raised to make it easier for passengers.
Stockyards
Moving livestock (like cattle and sheep) was very important at Eketahuna. So, the station facilities were changed many times to make it easier to load and unload animals. In 1902, a track for the cattle yards was extended to hold 20 wagons. In 1904, the sheep yards were made larger to hold 1,400 sheep instead of 300. A water supply and trough were added to the stockyards in 1914.
In 1907, special holding yards were built. These were located north of the station yard, across Alfredton Road. They were divided into three sections. Water was extended to these yards in 1928. A pen for holding pigs was added in 1930.
As more farmers used trucks to bring animals to the station, a sheep loading ramp was requested in 1936. The old facilities were designed for animals to be driven to the station. Unloading animals directly from trucks onto the ground could injure them. A similar ramp for cattle was requested in 1956. At that time, about 90% of livestock came to Eketahuna by truck.
By 1974, the pig yards were in bad shape and could not be used. They were removed as they were no longer needed. However, the sheep and cattle yards were still needed and had to be kept in good condition.
In 1979, track work in the station yard led to a request to remove the stockyards. By then, very few animals were being transported through Eketahuna by train. The stockyards were no longer used. The request was approved, and the stockyards were sold in 1980.
Yard and Loading Areas
In 1923, the station yard was extended at the south end. This allowed for new tracks and crossovers. Later that year, a side track used by train engines to get water was extended. This allowed larger engines to use it. The main loading area at Eketahuna was rebuilt with a concrete front in 1954. It was also made longer.
Coal Siding
A side track that led to the coal shed was removed in October 1929. The engine pit, where engines were serviced, was also filled in. The coal shed was no longer needed.
Locomotive Watering
After diesel trains were introduced in the 1950s, the need for water at stations was reviewed. At Eketahuna, it was decided to keep the water tanks at the south end of the yard. This was in case a steam engine was needed as a backup. The water tank at the north end was removed in 1959.
Loading Shelter
A loading shelter was approved for construction in September 1961. It was designed to cover a large area and allow for a special "pelican grab" loader to operate under it. Work started in March 1962 and finished in July. Commercial businesses had asked for the shelter. At the time, the station mainly handled casein (outbound) and superphosphate (inbound).
Eketahuna Station Today
The original station building was taken down after passenger services stopped. All other old buildings and tracks from the station's busy past have also been removed. The only things left from the original station are the platform, the loading area, and the foundations of a building. Two station name boards have been put on the platform. A signpost also shows where the station used to be.
For seven years, from 1988, no trains were scheduled to pass through Eketahuna. However, freight trains between Wellington and Napier started using the Wairarapa line again from 1995. This was because of traffic jams on another railway line. These freight trains passed through Eketahuna but did not stop. Later, these freight services went back to their original route.
Today, special passenger trains sometimes pass through or stop at Eketahuna. These trains are run by groups that preserve old railway history. Groups like Steam Incorporated and the Pahiatua Railcar Society have improved the station. They even moved the old Waikanae Station building to the Eketahuna platform. This building was given to them when it was no longer needed in Waikanae. The Eketahuna station was officially re-opened on 10 May 2014. In 2015, these groups received an award for their efforts.
