Location New Zealand Electrified June 1988 | Closed 2012 Opened 9 March 1887 | |
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Line(s) North Island Main Trunk Address Otorohanga 3900, New Zealand Similar Te Awamutu Railway, Te Kuiti railway station, Ohakune Railway Station, Hamilton Railway Station, Museum of New Zealand | ||
Otorohanga Railway Station has served the town of Otorohanga, on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand since 1887. It was 4.45 km (2.77 mi) south of Kiokio and 9.21 km (5.72 mi) north of Hangatiki, but is now one of only 9 stations on the line served by the Northern Explorer.
Contents
Trains calling at Otorohanga included The Overlander, Blue Streak, Scenic Daylight, Daylight Limited, Northerner and Night Limited. By 2012 passenger numbers had dropped to an average of two per train, which brought about a brief closure from 24 June. Initially the reinstatement was for summer only from 10 December
Services
The station is managed by Kiwirail who operate the Northern Explorer three times a week in each direction between Wellington and Britomart. Hamilton is 48.11 km (29.89 mi) to the north, timetabled in 2015, departure to departure, in 39 minutes, and National Park, 147.58 km (91.70 mi) to the south, in 139 minutes, both southbound.
Rangitoto Colliery Co. branch
The 1919 Railways Authorisation Bill included a, "branch line from Otorohanga, along right bank of the Waipa River, to the south boundary of Block VI, Mangaoronga survey district. Length about 7½ miles." The Railway Atlas indicates the line was horse worked, served the Ellis and Burnand Mill, as well as the colliery, and existed by 1921. The 1921 photograph (left) appears to show a horse worked tramway, but only remnants of the line appear in the 1947 photos.
A 1944 Parliamentary report indicates the colliery had closed some time before and that a road was built, rather than using the tramway. The report said, "Rangitoto Opencast.—Stripping of this area, adjacent to the old Rangitoto Colliery, some eight miles from Otorohanga, commenced, in July. An access road was also constructed. Coal-production started in September, Output for 1944 was 1,797 tons."