Mangaroa railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mangaroa
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| Formerly New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) | |
The sole remnant of the station, its loading bank.
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| Location | Flux Road, Mangaroa. |
| Coordinates | 41°7′16.58″S 175°6′37.48″E / 41.1212722°S 175.1104111°E |
| Owned by | Formerly Railways Department Now in private ownership |
| Line(s) | Formerly part of Wairarapa Line |
| Platforms | Single |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 January 1878 |
| Closed | 30 October 1955 |
| Previous names | Mungaroa |
Mangaroa railway station was a small train station in a countryside area. It was located in the Mangaroa Valley, near Upper Hutt in the Wellington region of New Zealand. This station was part of the Wairarapa Line, which connected Upper Hutt and Featherston. It closed in 1955 when a new train tunnel, the Remutaka Tunnel, opened and changed the train route.
Contents
Station History
The Mangaroa station wasn't built right away. It was added later, after the Kaitoke railway station opened.
Timber Mills and Train Sidings
Around 1876 to 1877, a private train track was built near the station. This track, called a siding, was owned by James Duff Cruickshank. He used it for his timber mill to load wood onto trains. This spot became a regular stop for trains and was known as Cruickshanks.
Later, Cruickshank built another mill closer to Mangaroa station. This second mill had its own small railway, called a tramway. It moved timber from the mill to the station yard, where it was loaded onto bigger railway wagons.
In 1912, another company, Seed Bros, also got permission to build a tramway. Their tramway connected their mill to the Mangaroa Station yard. It ran along Flux Road.
Station Upgrades and Staff Housing
In 1915, signals were put in place at Mangaroa Station to help control train movements. The Railways Department also needed houses for its staff.
The Rimutaka Tunnel Connection
During the building of the Remutaka Tunnel, a special train track was laid. This track went from the Mangaroa Valley to the new Maymorn railway station yard. It allowed work trains to bring long pieces of welded rail and other supplies directly to the tunnel construction site. Once the new tunnel opened in 1955, this temporary track was removed.
Military Use During World War II
During World War II, a special train siding was built at Mangaroa. This siding served a military storage depot for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The depot opened in 1942. After the war, it was used to get rid of extra supplies. The RNZAF stopped using it in 1949, and it was then used by the New Zealand Army.
Plans for a New Tunnel
Before the Remutaka Tunnel was built, people had several ideas for a tunnel under the Rimutaka Ranges. These tunnels would have started near Mangaroa station.
Early Tunnel Ideas
In 1898, a survey was done for a 5-mile (8 km) tunnel between Mangaroa and Cross Creek. Many people liked the idea, but it was too big a project for that time.
In 1921–1922, another study looked at the possibility of a Mangaroa to Cross Creek tunnel. This tunnel would have been about 5 miles and 18 chains (8.4 km) long. However, the government department decided not to go ahead with it.
The Tunnel That Was Built
In 1936, the government announced plans to build a Mangaroa to Cross Creek tunnel. New surveys were done in 1938–1939, but World War II caused delays. After the war, work finally began on a tunnel through the Remutaka Range.
When the Remutaka Tunnel opened in 1955, the train line between Upper Hutt and Featherston changed. The new route completely bypassed Mangaroa station. Interestingly, the new Maymorn railway station was first called Mangaroa.
Mangaroa Today
Not much of the old railway line remains in the Mangaroa Valley. Cruickshanks Tunnel is still there, but it's not easy to access. Only a few wooden piles are left from the old Mangaroa River bridge. You can still see a small hump in Flux Road where a level crossing used to be, just before the station.
Of the station itself, only the loading bank is left. You can find it beside Flux Road.
Images for kids
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Mangaroa Railway Station in the early 1950s, shortly before it closed.
