Thorndon railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thorndon railway station
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| commuter rail and regional rail | |
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Thorndon Railway Station (after November 1908)
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| Coordinates | 41°16′19.81″S 174°47′1.68″E / 41.2721694°S 174.7838000°E |
| Owned by |
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| Line(s) |
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| Platforms | Side |
| Tracks | Siding (1) |
| History | |
| Opened | 24 September 1885 |
| Closed | 19 June 1937 demolished July 1937 |
Thorndon railway station was a busy train station in Wellington, New Zealand. It opened in 1885. This station was the main southern stop for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's Wellington-Manawatu Line. Back then, it was known as Wellington and Manawatu railway station. Today, parts of this line are used by the Kapiti Line, which is part of the North Island Main Trunk.
The station closed on Saturday, 19 June 1937. This was the same day the new Bunny Street building opened. The old Thorndon station tracks were moved, and the building was taken down by the end of July.
Contents
What Thorndon Station Looked Like
The Thorndon station started with one platform on the side. It was lit up by electricity. Because it was the main station for the railway line, it had many important areas. These included a goods yard for cargo, an engine shed for trains, and workshops for repairs.
Where Was the Station Built?
The station was built on land that was created in 1882. This land was made by filling in parts of Wellington Harbour. The railway company got a large piece of this new land. A road called Davis Street was extended to reach the station. This road led to the station's big front area.
The first buildings, like the engine shed and workshop, were almost finished by August 1884. The company expected the train line to reach Pipitea Point by the end of 1884. New trains were due in October, and train wagons were already being put together in the workshop.
First Train Rides and Opening
On Wednesday, 17 June 1885, a special train made a trial run. It carried the railway company's directors and engineers. They inspected the track to the Porirua bridge. Other guests and reporters were also on board. The reporters praised the comfortable seats and the beautiful views from the train.
The first public timetable was released on 2 September 1885. The train line to Paremata officially opened on 21 September 1885. The first train left Thorndon station at 9:10 AM with 59 passengers. Before this, only company guests had ridden the trains. The station also got a telephone connection in October 1885. The line later opened to Plimmerton in October 1885 and to Longburn in November 1886.
Train Services from Thorndon
Thorndon station offered passenger trains to the Longburn end of the line. It also had local trains to places like Johnsonville, Porirua, or Paekakariki. By 1908, there were seven local trains each way on weekdays and Saturdays. There was one train each way on Sundays.
Passengers could also change trains at Longburn. This allowed them to connect to the Government line. This line went through the Wairarapa and the Manawatu Gorge. It became part of the North Island Main Trunk line.
Becoming a Main Hub
In December 1908, Thorndon became the main station for the newly finished North Island Main Trunk. The Wellington railway station in Featherston Street was renamed Wellington Lambton station. Thorndon officially became Wellington Thorndon station.
The very last "Limited Express" train arrived at Thorndon on the morning of Saturday, 19 June 1937. This was the day the station closed. The next Monday, the Limited Express arrived at the new Bunny Street station.
The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company
This company was started to finish building a railway line out of Wellington. The government had decided to stop working on the project. So, this private company stepped in to complete it.
Government Takes Over
The New Zealand Government took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company in December 1908. They kept the Wellington railway station, which was about half a mile south. They renamed it Lambton Railway Station. Both Thorndon and Lambton stations were used until the new Wellington railway station opened in June 1937.
Closing Down Thorndon Station
Thorndon station closed in June 1937. This was done so the railway yards could be changed for the new platforms of the Bunny Street building. The last "Limited" train arrived on the morning of Saturday, 19 June 1937. Later that day, the last train was scheduled to leave at 6:19 PM. The very last train to arrive was at 7:13 PM.
The Thorndon railway station building was taken down by the end of July.
Images for kids
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Thorndon station about 1905 looking south
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Locomotives and engine sheds
