Manakau railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manakau railway station
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Manakau station in 1910
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| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°42′55″S 175°12′58″E / 40.715172°S 175.21602°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 30 m (98 ft) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 79.39 km (49.33 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 2 August 1886 | ||||||||||
| Closed | passengers by December 1975 goods 4 April 1982 |
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| Previous names | Manukau | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The Manakau railway station was once a busy train stop in Manakau, a town in the Horowhenua District of New Zealand. It was part of the important North Island Main Trunk railway line. This station opened its doors in 1886. It served passengers and goods for many years. The station officially closed in 1982. Today, you can still find a shed, a hut, and a special track called a passing loop where the station used to be.
Contents
A Look Back at Manakau Station
Early Days of the Station
The Manakau railway station first opened on 2 August 1886. It was built by a company called the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. At first, it was a "flag station." This meant trains would only stop if someone waved a flag to get on. Or, if a passenger on the train told the conductor they wanted to get off there.
The very first trains started running between Longburn and Ōtaki. Later that year, on 30 November 1886, the first train traveled all the way from Wellington to Palmerston North.
Station Improvements Over Time
Over the years, the Manakau station got better and bigger. In 1902, a new shed was built to store goods. In 1908, the New Zealand Railways Department took over the station. They added a special system called "tablet signalling" to help trains run safely.
By 1911, the station had many useful features. There was a shelter for passengers and a platform to get on and off trains. It also had a goods shed, a loading area, and yards for cattle and sheep. A "passing loop" track was also added. This allowed trains to pass each other without stopping. It was first long enough for 51 wagons and later extended to 90 wagons in the 1940s.
Houses for railway workers were also built near the station in 1918, 1926, and 1941. In 1938, a bridge was built over the nearby SH1 to replace a dangerous level crossing.
The Station's Final Years
On 20 October 1967, the station no longer had staff working there. It went back to being an unattended flag station. This meant there was no one to help passengers or manage goods.
By 1973, plans were made to remove the station building. In 1981, the station mostly handled only fertiliser and lime for a special private track. The Manakau railway station officially closed to all traffic on 4 April 1982.
