Winiata railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winiata railway station
|
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winiata railway station about 1910
|
|||||||||||
| Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°41′28″S 175°48′43″E / 39.691062°S 175.811934°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 415 m (1,362 ft) | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
| Distance | Wellington 249.03 km (154.74 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 21 November 1904 | ||||||||||
| Closed | Passengers 10 August 1959 Goods 12 March 1972 |
||||||||||
| Electrified | June 1988 | ||||||||||
| Previous names | Bosher's Siding name change approved 17 December 1906 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
The Winiata railway station was once an important stop on the North Island Main Trunk railway line in New Zealand. This railway line connects the North Island from south to north.
When the railway section from Mangaweka to Taihape opened on 21 November 1904, the station was specially decorated with an archway. The Prime Minister of New Zealand at the time, Richard Seddon, was there for the opening. Today, only a single track runs through where the station used to be, and there are very few signs that a station was ever there.
Contents
The Station's Early Days
Building the Siding
In 1904, a company called Bosher Bros, who ran a sawmill, asked for a special railway track called a siding. A siding is a short track that branches off the main line. It helps trains load or unload goods without blocking the main track. This siding cost them about £400, which was a lot of money back then.
Passenger Services Begin
By 1905, people wanted passenger trains to stop at Winiata. So, a platform and a small shelter for passengers were built. These were ready by November 1906.
Changes to the Siding
In 1913, H D Bennett took over the private siding from Bosher Bros. Then, in 1915, it became a public siding, meaning anyone could use it. This happened when a freezing works (a place where meat is prepared and frozen) was built nearby in Taihape. The freezing works even had its own siding on the other side of the railway line. However, this freezing works closed in 1925.
What the Station Carried
Timber and Farm Goods
Like other stations along the North Island Main Trunk, Winiata station helped transport timber from several sawmills. These included Bright & Carter, Manawatu Timber Co, Sowersby, and Symes.
Over time, the types of goods carried changed. By 1959, the station mainly transported lime (used for farming), manure (fertilizer), and sheep. The sidings were also used to store empty wagons for livestock during quieter times of the year.
When the Station Closed
End of Passenger Services
On 10 August 1959, Winiata station stopped serving passengers. It also stopped handling small packages and general goods.
Final Closure
In 1969, the sheep yards and the siding on the west side of the track were closed. By 1972, a company called Taihape Bulk Fertilisers stopped using the station. Because of this, Winiata station officially closed completely on 12 March 1972. After its closure, the sheep yards and the station building were taken down.
