Ohau railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ōhau railway station
|
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ōhau in 1961
|
|||||||||||
| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40°40′07″S 175°14′43″E / 40.668482°S 175.245181°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 31 m (102 ft) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 85.33 km (53.02 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 2 August 1886 | ||||||||||
| Closed | passengers 21 January 1971 goods 2 November 1987 |
||||||||||
| Previous names | Manukau | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
The Ōhau railway station was once an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line. This line runs through the Horowhenua District in New Zealand. The station officially closed on November 2, 1987. However, most trains stopped picking up passengers much earlier, in 1971. Today, you can only see a small building for railway equipment and a special track called a passing loop where trains could wait for others to pass.
Contents
History of Ōhau Station
Early Days and Opening
The Ōhau station first opened on August 2, 1886. It was a "flag station," which meant trains would only stop if someone waved a flag to get on, or if a passenger on the train asked to get off there. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company built and operated it.
Trains started running between Longburn and Ōtaki on that day. A special test train had already visited Ōhau in April 1886. The very first train to travel all the way from Wellington to Palmerston North passed through Ōhau on November 30, 1886.
Station Improvements Over Time
Over the years, the Ōhau station got many upgrades. In 1893, a shed was built to store goods. When the New Zealand Railways Department took over the railway in 1908, they added a special signalling system to keep trains safe.
In 1909, the station was improved even more. The platform was made longer, and yards for cattle were built. By 1911, the station had a shelter, a platform, a goods shed, and a loading area. It also had a "passing loop" track where trains could wait. This loop was made longer several times to hold more wagons. Electricity was connected to the station in 1930.
Homes for Railway Workers
Several houses were built for railway workers and their families near the station. These homes were built in 1892, 1903, 1921, 1927 (two houses), 1938, and 1962.
Water for Steam Engines
Getting enough water for the steam engines was a challenge for many years. In 1912, it was planned that express trains would get water at Ōhau. A new well was dug in 1913, and a pump house was set up.
Later, a large windmill was used to pump water. By 1923, bigger engines could fill up their water tanks at Ōhau. In 1935, the windmill was replaced with a smaller tank. Finally, in 1950, the well was made deeper, and a new concrete water tank was built.
Platform Repairs and Changes
The station platform needed a lot of repairs between 1912 and 1956. It was often in poor condition. By 1934, the wooden parts were rotting. In 1938, part of the platform was shortened and rebuilt with concrete.
However, in 1939, the surface was still broken. It was so bad that it made it hard for workers to move milk carts, causing train delays. More repairs were done in 1945 and 1946. In 1956, the platform was made longer again to fit up to 10 train coaches.
Station Closure
In 1963, a shed at the south end of the station was taken down. On June 27, 1971, the Ōhau station officially closed for all train traffic. This meant no more passengers or goods were handled there.
Even after closing, some railway buildings remained for a short time. The station building and goods shed were taken down later in 1971. Although the station was closed, some scrap metal was still sent out and fertilizer brought in by train in 1981, likely to private sidings. The station was reported as fully closed, except for a private shingle siding, on January 31, 1982.
Ōhau River Bridge
Just south of where the Ōhau station used to be, the main railway line crosses the Ōhau River. The railway bridge has six steel sections and is supported by strong concrete pillars.
