The Last Spike on the Main Trunk Railway. North Island, New Zealand.
S 39° 16.580 E 175° 23.360
60H E 361069 N 5651321
At Manganuioteao, between National Park and Ohakune, on the Main Trunk Railway line through the North Island, is a marker to commemorate the Last Spike.
Waymark Code: WM79E2
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/23/2009
Views: 16
On 6 November 1908, Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward ceremonially opened the North Island main trunk railway line by driving home a final polished silver spike at Manganuioteao, between National Park and Ohakune.
Made possible by pioneering engineering amid the challenges of a frontier land, and lately enhanced by modern technology, the North Island Main Truck Railway is New Zealand’s most significant land route.
From 15 April 1885 when Maniopoto paramount chief, Wahanui turned the first sod of the Main Truck railway project near Te Awamutu, and Premier Robert Stout wheeled this away, it took 23 years to complete the line. Another Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, drove the last spike on 6 November 1908. A through train service began three days later.
The Monument celebrating the Last Spike is near the Manganui O te Ao River on State Highway 4.
Only genuine visit logs will be accepted. Traveling past on the train will not be accepted as a visit to this monument and those logs will be deleted.