Mangaweka railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mangaweka railway station
Mangaweka railway station about 1902
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	39°49′16″S 175°46′31″E / 39.821179°S 175.77522°E / -39.821179; 175.77522
Elevation	327 m (1,073 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 231.04 km (143.56 mi)
History
Opened	3 November 1902
Closed	Passengers 18 April 1971 Goods before 1993
Electrified	June 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Utiku Line open, station closed 12.65 km (7.86 mi)   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Ōhingaiti Line open, station closed 8.9 km (5.5 mi)

The Mangaweka railway station was a train station in the small village of Mangaweka, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. It was an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line.

The first station opened in 1902. It closed on 15 November 1981. A new station then opened nearby on 18 November 1981. This new station was mainly for parcels and small goods, and it also served as a passing loop for trains.

For a few years, from 1902 to 1904, Mangaweka was the end of the railway line coming from Wellington. This made it a very important place for travel and trade.

Station History

Building the Station

Plans for the Mangaweka station building started in late 1901. The railway line from Mangaonoho to Mangaweka was ready for goods trains by August 1902.

The New Zealand Railways Department officially took over the line and opened the station on Monday, 3 November 1902. The station had many useful facilities. These included a platform for passengers and a long passing loop for trains to wait or pass each other.

It also had a goods shed for storing items, a loading area, and yards for sheep and cattle. There was even a water supply for steam engines and a coal shed. The station also had a house for the stationmaster.

Extending the Line

The railway line continued to be built north from Mangaweka. By August 1904, the line reached Utiku for goods trains. Passenger trains started running to Taihape on Friday, 12 August 1904.

The New Zealand Railways Department took over the section from Mangaweka to Taihape on 1 November 1904. This meant trains could travel much further north.

Station Upgrades and Closure

In 1957, the passing loop at Mangaweka station was made longer. New motor points and colour light signals were also added. These helped control the trains more easily and safely.

Passenger trains stopped using Mangaweka station on Sunday, 18 April 1971. By this time, much of the original station building had been taken down. However, in 1980, a goods shed, loading bank, and a crane were still there.

A new station opened on Wednesday, 18 November 1981. But this new station also closed down before 1993.

Images for kids

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  This chart shows how many tickets were sold at Mangaweka station between 1903 and 1950.