Ngaroto railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ngaroto railway station
Ngaroto on 1946 one inch to one mile map
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	37°58′54″S 175°18′31″E / 37.981686°S 175.308495°E / -37.981686; 175.308495
Elevation	57 m (187 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 520.06 km (323.15 mi)
History
Opened	1 July 1880
Closed	15 December 1957
Electrified	June 1988
Previous names	Ninia
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Lake Rd Line open, station closed 3.4 km (2.1 mi)   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Te Awamutu Line open, station closed 3.04 km (1.89 mi)

Ngaroto railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, 3.42 km (2.13 mi) south of Lake Rd, 2 mi (3.2 km) north of Te Awamutu, beside the entrance to Yarndley's Bush. Lake Ngaroto is visible from the railway to the north of the station.

Te Awamutu dairy factory trip train climbing north to Ngaroto station site over the bank raised in 1928. Mt Kakepuku in background. August 2014

The station was planned in 1879 and opened in 1880 at the same time the NIMT was extended to Te Awamutu, though it wasn't mentioned in the press until postal contracts were being let in 1881. By 1884 Ngaroto had a 4th class station, passenger platform, cart approach, 60 ft (18 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, stationmaster's house and urinals. From 1883 to 1917 there was a Post Office at the station. There were cattle yards by 1897 and sheep yards by 1911. A crossing loop could hold 41 wagons. There was a proposal to close the station in 1886. It was staffed until 1887, when a ganger took on running the post office. In the early years it was a vital part of local farm transport.

Apart from electrification, the only significant work since then seems to have been in 1928, when a lengthy embankment and raised bridge over the Mangapiko Stream lifted the line about 5 ft (1.5 m), to ease the climb from Te Awamutu to Ngaroto.

Ngaroto only featured in annual reports for 3 years –