Ngaroto railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ngaroto railway station
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Ngaroto on 1946 one inch to one mile map
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| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°58′54″S 175°18′31″E / 37.981686°S 175.308495°E | ||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||
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Ngaroto railway station was a train stop in New Zealand. It was part of the important North Island Main Trunk railway line. This line connects many places in the North Island. The station was located about 3.42 kilometers (2.13 miles) south of Lake Road station. It was also about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) north of Te Awamutu. You could see Lake Ngaroto from the railway line near the station.
Contents
Station History
The Ngaroto station was first planned in 1879. It officially opened on 1 July 1880. This was the same time the main railway line reached Te Awamutu. At first, the station wasn't mentioned much in the news.
What the Station Had
By 1884, Ngaroto station had many useful buildings and features:
- A station building, which was a "4th class" size.
- A platform for passengers to get on and off trains.
- A special area for carts to bring goods.
- A goods shed, which was 60 feet (18 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide.
- A loading bank to help load and unload items.
- A house for the stationmaster.
- Restrooms (urinals).
From 1883 to 1917, there was even a Post Office at the station. This made it a busy and important place for the local community. By 1897, there were yards for cattle. By 1911, sheep yards were added too. This shows how important the station was for local farmers.
Station Operations
The station was staffed by a stationmaster until 1887. After that, a "ganger" (a railway worker who looks after the tracks) took over running the Post Office. In its early years, Ngaroto station was very important for local farms. It helped them transport their goods to other places.
Changes to the Railway Line
In 1928, a big change happened near the station. A long raised bank and a new bridge were built over the Mangapiko Stream. This lifted the railway line by about 5 feet (1.5 meters). This change made it easier for trains to climb the hill from Te Awamutu to Ngaroto.
The station closed on 15 December 1957. However, the railway line itself was electrified in June 1988. This means electric trains can now use the line.
Station Activity
The Ngaroto station was mentioned in annual reports for only three years. This shows it was a smaller station.
- In 1885, 380 tickets were sold.
- In 1886, 346 tickets were sold.
- In 1887, 286 tickets were sold, and 22 season tickets were sold.
During these years, the station had one staff member.
