Pitcaithly's railway station facts for kids

Pitcaithly’s railway station was a train stop in New Zealand. It was part of the Hutt Valley Line, which connected to the Wairarapa Line. This station was located north of Melling, on the western side of the Hutt Valley. It operated until 1938, when a new station called Andrews railway station took its place.

History of Pitcaithly's Station

Pitcaithly’s was one of several new train stations opened in 1908. These stations were all along the Hutt Valley part of the railway line. Other stations opened around the same time included Melling, Gosse and Co’s siding, and the Belmont Quarry Co’s Siding. There was also the Silverstream Bridge railway station.

Why Pitcaithly's Station Closed

Pitcaithly’s station closed its doors in 1938. The actual station building was then moved to the new Andrews railway station. This new station was located about 1.2 kilometers (or 0.75 miles) south of the old Pitcaithly's spot.

A book by Hoy shows a picture of the Pitcaithly’s station building. It was a small shelter, typical for a "Flag Station." These stations were simple stops where trains would only stop if someone waved a flag. The building had a two-part roof that was highest in the middle. The name on the building was "Pitcaithlys," without an apostrophe.

In 1938, Dan Sullivan, who was the Minister of Railways, explained the reason for the move. He said that the decision to move the station to Andrews had been made two years earlier. More people lived near the new Andrews location than around Pitcaithly’s. This move was not part of bigger plans to improve all train services in the Hutt Valley at that time.