Ohakune Station. Central North Island. New Zealand.
S 39° 24.160 E 175° 24.970
60H E 363630 N 5637340
Ohakune Railway Station is a favourite place for train spotters, especially when the steam locomotives are making their special excursion trips along the Main Trunk Line.
Waymark Code: WM6Q6P
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 07/06/2009
Views: 14
Ohakune’s early railway heritage started in 1905 as the headquarters for the construction of the section of the Main Trunk Line through the Central Volcanic Plateau. The Ohakune Junction Railway Station was built then as the “south rail head”. While the line was being built rail passengers would stay the night in Ohakune and were carried to the northern rail head at Raurimu by stage coach.
The construction involved building the huge Hapuawhenua Viaduct, which carries a world engineering heritage listing, the Taonui Viaduct, the Makatote Viaduct and the Raurimu Spiral, which was a striking engineering feat of its day, that allows the track to climb up to the Plateau.
A group of local rail enthusiasts – Main Trunk Rail Ohakune Incorporated – have restored the railway station and brought in and restored a 21 metre (70ft) turntable, and the old Paekakariki signal box. The turntable is now used to turn steam locomotives, which regularly make excursions to the area. The group has also acquired the old Rangataua Trust Store, to be used as a railway museum, alongside the old Foreman of Works Office.
Another important piece of local railway history, not far from Ohakune, is the memorial site of the 1953 Tangiwai Disaster, where 151 people died when a lahar (volcanic mudflow) swept the railway bridge away and the Christmas Eve Wellington to Auckland Express plunged into the Whangaehu River.
What Best Describes This Location: Mainline
If there is a fee how much?: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Related website: [Web Link]
Other Describe: Not listed
Is this rail location handicap accessible?: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
When logging a visit please include your own pictures and details of your experience. Pictures of rail activity in action are greatly encouraged and appreciated!
Try to provide the time of day you visited and how much activity you witnessed.
By providing times and activity in your details, the next visitor might have a better idea of when to make their visit.
Keep this in mind when you visit an Active Rail Locations waymark, the railroad determines how much activity there is on any given day.
Thank You!