Waingawa railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waingawa
|
|
|---|---|
| New Zealand Government Railways Department regional rail | |
Waingawa railway station platform.
|
|
| Location | Waingawa Road, Masterton District, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 40°58′8.47″S 175°35′46.82″E / 40.9690194°S 175.5963389°E |
| Owned by | ONTRACK |
| Line(s) | Wairarapa Line |
| Platforms | Single side |
| Tracks | Main line (1) Wagon loops (4) |
| Construction | |
| Parking | No |
| Bicycle facilities | No |
| History | |
| Opened | 30 March 1921 |
| Closed | 27 February 1987 (freight, general consignments only) 28 September 1992 (passengers) |
| Previous names | Taratahi |
The Waingawa railway station is a train station in the Masterton district of New Zealand. It is found on the Wairarapa Line, which is a railway track. The station is about 1 kilometer south of the Waingawa River. It is in an area with many factories and businesses. Waingawa station used to have trains for people until 1992. Now, it only handles freight, which means it moves goods and products.
Waingawa Station: A Look Back in Time
How Did Waingawa Station Get Its Name?
The name Waingawa was first used for a railway spot in 1895. This was a private siding, like a small side track, about 2 miles south of Kurupuni. It was known as Donald's Siding for a long time. A company called Wellington Meat Export Company used it to load animals onto trains. These animals were then taken to their meat factory in Ngahauranga.
When Did the Station Open?
Between 1908 and 1912, another company, Wellington Farmers' Meat Company, built its own private siding. This was called Taratahi. In 1921, this spot became the new Waingawa station. It had special signals for trains. After this, the name Taratahi was no longer used. The station officially opened on March 30, 1921.
What Was Moved by Train at Waingawa?
Even after a meat factory opened in Waingawa in 1897, many animals were still sent by train to Wellington. In 1966, a new side track was added. This track went from the Waingawa yard to the Masterton sale yards. The sale yards are still there today. However, the train track to them has been removed.
What Businesses Were Near the Station?
Many businesses have been near Waingawa station over the years. The Waingawa Freezing Works opened in 1911. This factory closed on November 9, 1989. Later, in February 1992, a Japanese wood company called Juken Nissho opened a mill. This mill is just north of the station. It still uses its own private track to send goods by train.
Waingawa Station: What's Happening Now?
How Is the Station Used Today?
Since the meat factory closed, businesses that deal with wood and trucking companies have taken over. The Juken New Zealand (JNL) mill is now the biggest customer using the train tracks. They send many products by rail.
What Are Future Plans for Waingawa?
There are plans that might use trains more from the Wairarapa area. These include:
- Moving logs by train.
- Developing the Waingawa Industrial Park.
- Transporting milk from Waingawa to Hawera by train.
In 2009, money was approved for the log freight project. Log trains started running in March 2012. They usually move about 300 tonnes of logs every day.
Where Is the Old Station Building Now?
The old Waingawa station building was saved in 1991. The Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society moved it. You can now see it at the Carterton station museum. Visitors can learn about its history there.
Can Passengers Still Use Waingawa Station?
The only thing left at Waingawa that shows passenger trains used to stop there is the old platform. You can still see it from Waingawa Road. It is not likely that passenger trains will stop here again. Waingawa is now considered part of the "Solway/Masterton rail station area."
Gallery
-
The Juken Nissho mill next to the Waingawa railway station and its private train track.
-
The Masterton saleyards, which used to send goods by train from Waingawa station.
-
A ramp for loading animals at the Masterton saleyards. It might have been used to load animals directly onto train wagons.
-
The northern part of the Waingawa railway station yard, near Norfolk Road.
-
The southern part of the Waingawa railway station yard, near Norman Avenue.
-
The Waingawa Industrial Park being built, south of the Waingawa railway station yard.
-
The Waingawa railway station building, now located at Carterton.
