Kakahi railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kakahi railway station
Kakahi 1908
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	38°56′19″S 175°23′14″E / 38.938500°S 175.387200°E / -38.938500; 175.387200
Elevation	266 m (873 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 382 km (237 mi)
History
Opened	11 October 1904
Closed	25 June 1978
Electrified	June 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Piriaka Line open, station closed   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Ōwhango Line open, station closed

Kakahi was once a busy train station on New Zealand's main railway line, called the North Island Main Trunk. It was located in the Ruapehu District and served the small town of Kakahi.

The station officially opened on 9 November 1908. However, tracks were already laid by 1904. Even before the station was fully ready, trains carrying materials (and sometimes people!) were using the line. Building the Kakahi Bridge, which crosses the Kakahi Stream, was a big job and caused some delays in finishing the railway line.

Station Features

The Kakahi station had several important features over the years.

Early Buildings

In 1907, an island platform was built. This is a platform with train tracks on both sides. A small shelter was also added. The next year, in 1908, the shelter was made bigger. It included a lobby, restrooms, and a storage room. There was also a goods shed, which was a building for storing items that were being shipped by train.

Livestock and Storage

A special area for farm animals, called a stockyard, was added in 1912. This was made larger in 1945. However, it was closed down in 1971. The original shelter building was removed in 1958. The main station building was taken down in 1966. A new, smaller shelter was built in 1968 for parcels and phones.

Train Operations

The station had a passing loop, which is an extra section of track. This allowed trains to pass each other or wait for another train to go by. This loop was made longer in 1937.

Special signalling systems helped control the trains. In 1913, an electric block tablet system was put in place. This system used metal tablets to ensure only one train was on a section of track at a time. A newer version of this system was installed in 1965. Later, in 1967, a more modern system called Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) began. CTC allows one person to control train movements over a large area.

An engine turning triangle was built in 1951 or 1952. This was a set of tracks shaped like a triangle that allowed train engines to turn around. It seems this turning area was no longer used by 1969.

Station Closure

Kakahi station closed to all train traffic on Sunday, 25 June 1978. Even though the station is closed, the passing loop tracks are still used by trains today.

Sawmill Operations

For many years, a large sawmill operated near Kakahi station.

Timber Production

In November 1904, the Public Works Department set up a sawmill. They also built a horse tramway, which was a small railway for horse-drawn carts. This mill was used to cut down different types of native trees, like kahikatea, mataī, rimu, and totara. The wood was used to build railway sleepers (the wooden blocks under the tracks), bridges, and other parts needed to finish the North Island Main Trunk railway line.

Mill Activity

The sawmill was very busy, cutting about 11,000 board feet of timber each day. A board foot is a way to measure wood. About 45 people worked at the mill. In 1909, the sawmill was transferred to the New Zealand Railways. They spent money to make improvements to the mill. Electric lights were installed in 1912.

Mill Closure

By 1914, the tramway used to transport logs was in poor condition. In 1917, the sawmill was taken apart. The railway sidings (short tracks used for loading or unloading) that served the mill were removed in 1921. However, in 1955, a new siding was added for a company called Kakahi Timber Co Ltd.