Hadfield railway station, New Zealand facts for kids

Hadfield railway station was a small train stop, known as a flag station, located in the Kapiti Coast District of New Zealand. It was a part of the important North Island Main Trunk railway line.

A flag station was a place where trains would only stop if someone wanted to get on or off. Passengers would wave a flag to signal the train to stop, or tell the conductor they wanted to get off at that stop.

This station was open for a short time, from 1 December 1886 until 15 January 1906.

What Was Hadfield Station?

Hadfield station wasn't a big, busy place. It had a "waiting shed" where people could shelter from the weather while they waited for a train.

The station also had a special track called a "loop" that could hold up to 28 train wagons and a locomotive. This loop allowed trains to pass each other or for wagons to be stored.

The station was probably named after a nearby stream called Te Kowhai or Hadfield's Creek. Sometimes, people even spelled the station's name as Hatfield by mistake!

Building the Railway Line

Hadfield station was part of the Wellington-Manawatu Line. This line was built by a company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR).

The very first train to travel all the way from Wellington to Palmerston North ran on 30 November 1886. This was a big event for New Zealand!

The section of the railway that included Hadfield station, stretching from Waikanae to Ōtaki, was built by two contractors, Messrs Wilkie and Wilson.

What's Left Today?

Today, you won't find the Hadfield railway station building or waiting shed. Only a single train track still runs through the spot where the station used to be.