Linton railway station, Palmerston North facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linton railway station
Linton plan 1885. The station was to be in the centre of the town, but only Cook St was built
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	40°25′37″S 175°32′48″E / 40.426941°S 175.54665°E / -40.426941; 175.54665
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 124.22 km (77.19 mi)
History
Opened	7 July 1885
Closed	19 November 1972
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Longburn Line open, station closed 5.72 km (3.55 mi)   North Island Main Trunk Kiwirail   Tokomaru Line open, station closed 5.66 km (3.52 mi)

Linton railway station was once an important stop in New Zealand. It was located at Linton in Palmerston North. This station was part of the main railway line called the North Island Main Trunk.

The station first opened on 7 July 1885. It was built by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. Passenger trains stopped running here on 21 January 1971. The station fully closed for goods on 19 November 1972. Today, only a small section of track for trains to pass each other remains.

The Station's Early Days

Building the Railway Line

By March 1885, about 9 miles (14 km) of the railway line was finished. This section included the stations at Linton and Tokomaru. The Linton station might have opened for goods transport in July 1885. However, regular passenger trains did not start for another year.

A special train ran in April 1886. It went from Longburn to Ohau. From August 2, 1886, trains began running between Longburn and Ōtaki. Linton was listed as a "flag station" in the timetables. This meant trains only stopped if someone waved a flag. The first train from Wellington to Palmerston North ran on November 30, 1886.

A Town That Didn't Quite Grow

Linton was planned to be a much bigger town. The idea was to sell land there to help pay for the railway. But only a small part of the plan was ever built. You can still see the original town layout on modern maps. Because of this, the station ended up on the edge of a very small settlement. Another attempt to sell land was made in 1897.

Station Improvements Over Time

Growing Facilities

Even though the town didn't grow much, the station did get better. In 1890, a shed for goods was built. It was made larger in 1910, becoming 40 feet (12 m) by 20 feet (6 m) with a covered area.

The station was improved again in 1909. By 1911, it had a shelter for passengers and a platform. There was also an area for carts to load goods. Yards for cattle and sheep were added too. A "passing loop" was built, which is an extra track for trains to pass each other. This loop was extended several times. It started at 46 wagons in 1911 and grew to 114 wagons by 1964. This allowed long mail trains to cross at Linton.

In 1912, a special office for train control was added. A loading bank was also built, and a porter was hired to help.

Homes for Railway Workers

Homes for railway workers were built near the station. These houses were constructed in 1895, 1903, 1912, 1938, and 1946.

Timber Transport

In the early 1900s, a special tramway was built. It was about 7 miles (11 km) long and used horses to pull timber. This tramway brought wood from a mill in the Tararua Range to the station. The mill and tramway were sold in 1911.

Linton Military Camp Siding

On November 13, 1942, a private railway track was opened. It was about 2 miles (3.2 km) long and went to the Linton Military Camp. This track was used to carry soldiers to and from the camp on special trains. The tracks used for this siding came from another railway line that was being removed.

The Station's Final Years

In 1968, some of the older buildings at the station were removed. On November 19, 1972, Linton station officially closed. After this date, only trains going to the private siding for the military camp used the tracks.