Lambton railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wellington railway station 1885–1908
Lambton railway station 1908–1937 |
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| New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) | |
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The station seen from the foot of Mulgrave Street
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| Location | Wellington |
| Coordinates | 41°16′43.3″S 174°46′48.21″E / 41.278694°S 174.7800583°E |
| Owned by | Railways Department |
| Line(s) | Hutt Valley Line, Wairarapa Line and until 1908 the Main Trunk Line |
| Platforms | Island |
| Tracks | Main line (1) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1885 for passengers |
| Closed | 18 / 19 July 1936 |
| Rebuilt | new building opened |
The Lambton railway station (originally called Wellington railway station) was an important train station in Wellington, New Zealand. It was located on Featherston Street. From 1885 to 1936, it was the main passenger stop for trains on the Hutt Line and Wairarapa Line. It also served lines further north until 1908.
This station was actually Wellington's third railway station. Before it, there were temporary stations at Pipitea Point and another spot on Featherston Street. The Lambton station's platform closed in July 1936. However, people still used the building and a temporary path to the new train platforms. The ticket office stayed open until June 19, 1937. After that, the building was taken down.
Contents
Where Were Wellington's First Stations?
A big earthquake in 1855 created new dry land along Wellington Harbour. In the 1870s, train tracks were built on this new land. They went from Thorndon towards Wellington city, reaching as far as Pipitea Point. This became the first Wellington railway station. The Hutt Line in Wellington opened in 1874.
Another station, called Thorndon station, opened nearby in 1885. It was built quickly after two railway companies couldn't agree to share the Lambton station.
As more land was reclaimed from the harbour, the train line was extended. It reached Wellington's business area at Ballance Street. This was near the new Government Buildings, which were finished in 1876.
The Hutt Road was quite narrow, only about 7 meters wide. To make it wider, the government and a private railway company swapped some land. This moved the government's train lines closer to the harbour. The Pipitea Point stop was then removed. At the same time, it was decided that the main Wellington Railway Station would move north. This was to help with busy traffic around the Railway Wharf.
Later, in 1893, the line was extended even further to the Te Aro area. This extension helped with industry and businesses. However, it closed down in 1917.
The Second Wellington Station (75 Featherston Street)
The second Wellington railway station was built on Featherston Street, between Whitmore and Bunny Streets. It opened on November 1, 1880.
On the same day, the Wairarapa Line opened all the way to Masterton. This line crossed the difficult Rimutaka Incline. The Railway Wharf, which had three separate train lines, was also finished in April 1880.
Building the Passenger Terminal
Plans for the new station were made in March 1880. It was first meant to face Waterloo Quay, but this was quickly changed to Featherston Street. Newspapers described it as a "plain" building. It was one story high, about 45 meters long, 6 meters tall, and 5 meters wide.
The main platform was made of asphalt and stretched 120 meters behind the station. It had a roof to protect passengers. A second platform for arriving trains had no cover. The building was mostly made from totara and kauri wood. People didn't think it would be a very impressive building for Wellington.
Some people were concerned because the government built it from wood. This went against the city's rules about using flammable materials in that area.
Once it was built, it became clear that the new passenger station made it hard to get to the busy Railway Wharf. There was much more wharf traffic than expected, so the station had to be moved. In January 1884, it was suggested to move the building a bit further north.
Moving the Station Building
A temporary platform and ticket office were set up about 300 meters north of the station. This was at the bottom of Sydney Street (now Kate Sheppard Place). It was ready to open after February 15, 1885.
The station building itself was moved using skids and powerful screwjacks. It arrived at its new spot near Mulgrave Street on the evening of February 20, 1885. Crowds of people watched this huge operation every day.
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A local newspaper reported, "The Wellington railway station has been shifted bodily to near Mulgrave Street."
The Goods shed (where freight was handled) was moved later, in August 1885. A team of 30 or 40 men cut it into sections. These sections were then put on train trucks and rebuilt close to the passenger station.
New Zealand Railways Headquarters
The same site where the station was moved to was later used for the New Zealand Railways Department headquarters building. This building started in 1901 and was finished in 1905. In 1937, the Railways Department moved out, and the Defence Department took over the building. It was eventually torn down. Today, the Rydges Hotel stands where its front used to be on Featherston Street.
Lambton Station: Featherston Street opposite Mulgrave Street
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The building that was at 75 Featherston Street was picked up and put on rollers. It was then moved further north along Featherston Street, past Bunny Street.
It was placed across from the bottom of Mulgrave Street, where it met Sydney Street (now Kate Sheppard Place).
This station opened to passengers in late February 1885.
The name of this building changed from Wellington railway station to Lambton railway station in December 1908. This happened after the government bought the Thorndon railway station and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. By 1908, people thought the building was not good enough. However, it was used for almost another 30 years. When Lambton station was finally taken down in 1937, a local newspaper said that people had complained about the building for over 20 years, and it had been "rotten" long before it was demolished.
Passengers for the Wairarapa and Hutt lines were moved to the new suburban platforms of the unfinished Bunny Street building. The first Hutt Valley trains left from these new platforms on July 20, 1936.
The Lambton station building was torn down soon after the new Bunny Street building opened.
