Thames railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thames railway station
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Former Thames railway station building
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| Location | 111 Queen Street, Thames New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 37°8′37.82″S 175°32′34.53″E / 37.1438389°S 175.5429250°E |
| Line(s) | Thames Branch |
The Thames railway station was an important train station in Thames, New Zealand. It was part of the Thames Branch railway line. This line connected Thames to Morrinsville. Today, the station no longer operates trains. However, its historic building still stands.
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A Look Back at Thames Station
The Thames railway station first opened its doors on 19 December 1898. This was the same day the railway line to Thames began operating. People could catch trains from this station for many years. There were also smaller station buildings nearby. These were called Thames North and Thames South.
When Trains Stopped Running
Passenger trains stopped using the Thames station on 28 March 1951. After that, only goods trains used the line. The main railway line, called the Thames Branch, mostly closed on 28 June 1991. This meant that goods trains also stopped running to Thames.
Protecting the Historic Building
Even though the trains stopped, the station building itself remained. This is because it was recognized as a special historic place. In 1982, it was listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category II historic building. This means it's an important part of New Zealand's history.
The building is a "standard Vintage station" design. It has special features like pointed gables on the roof. It also has decorative finials and scalloped bargeboards. These are fancy wooden decorations along the edges of the roof.
Railway Plans That Didn't Happen
In the 1930s, there were plans to build a new railway line. It was called the Paeroa–Pokeno Line. This line was meant to be the first part of a much bigger railway. This bigger railway was known as the East Coast Main Trunk. However, very little work was done on the Paeroa–Pokeno Line. The idea was eventually given up.
