Waiouru railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waiouru railway station
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Waiouru railway station in 2018
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| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°28′50″S 175°40′02″E / 39.480659°S 175.667095°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 814 m (2,671 ft) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 408.54 km (253.85 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1 March 1907 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 10 April 2005 | ||||||||||
| Electrified | June 1988 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The Waiouru railway station was once an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line in Waiouru, New Zealand. It was known for being the highest railway station in the entire New Zealand rail system, sitting at 814 meters (about 2,670 feet) above sea level.
The station first opened for moving goods in March 1907. A little over a year later, on July 1, 1908, it also started welcoming passengers. This made it a key spot for both people and supplies traveling through the North Island.
Contents
A Busy Railway Hub
For many years, Waiouru station was a busy place. It helped connect people and goods across the North Island. Trains carried all sorts of items, and passengers could travel to different towns and cities.
The End of Passenger Services
The last passenger train to stop at Waiouru was called the Overlander. This popular train stopped coming to Waiouru after April 10, 2005. Before that, the station had already stopped handling goods traffic on October 13, 1986. This meant the station was no longer used for trains carrying items.
Connecting to the Military Camp
In 1940, a special railway line was built from Waiouru station to the military camp nearby. This branch line was about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long. It even had a very long platform, about 1,000 feet (300 meters) long, to help load and unload military supplies and personnel. This special line opened on November 15, 1940, and was still in use in 1966.
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