Kiokio railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kiokio railway station
Kiokio in 1944
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	38°09′12″S 175°14′23″E / 38.153255°S 175.239658°E / -38.153255; 175.239658
Elevation	36 m (118 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 498.86 km (309.98 mi)
History
Opened	9 March 1887
Closed	28 November 1971 goods, 9 June 1969 passenger
Electrified	June 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Te Kawa Line open, station closed 8.02 km (4.98 mi)   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Ōtorohanga Line open, station open 4.45 km (2.77 mi)

Kiokio railway station was an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line in New Zealand. It was a special kind of station called a flag station. This meant trains would only stop there if a passenger waved a flag to get on, or if someone on the train told the conductor they wanted to get off at Kiokio.

The station played a role in connecting communities along the main railway line. It helped people and goods travel across the North Island.

The Station's Early Days

The Kiokio railway station officially opened on 9 March 1887. In its early years, it was quite simple. By December 1896, it had a basic shelter shed for passengers. There was also a platform where people could get on and off trains. A special track called a crossing loop allowed trains to pass each other. This loop was long enough for four wagons.

Growing and Changing

As more people used the railway, the station needed to grow. By December 1911, a loading bank was added. This made it easier to load and unload goods from trains. The crossing loop was also made longer, so it could hold seven wagons.

In 1913, the amount of traffic at Kiokio station was "rapidly increasing." This meant many more people and goods were using the station. Because of this growth, the Minister for Railways approved a new goods shed. This shed was about 9 metres by 6 metres and had a roofed area called a verandah. It was built next to a new side track, making it even easier to handle goods.

This map from 1955 shows the railway line near Kiokio.

The Station's Final Years

The main station building was built in 1887. It was last painted in 1960, according to a report from 1963.

Kiokio station eventually closed to passengers on Monday, 9 June 1969. It then closed completely for all goods traffic on Sunday, 28 November 1971. Today, only a single railway track runs through the old station site. Apart from the name of the road nearby, there is little left to show that a busy station once stood there.