Awapuni railway station
{{short description|Defunct railway station in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Awapuni railway station
| type =
| image = Awapuni racecourse bridge about 1910.png
| image_caption = Bridge over Awapuni Lagoon about 1910
on the racecourse siding
| address =
| country = New Zealand
| coordinates = {{coord|-40.372979|175.573472|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = {{convert|25|m|abbr=on}}
| owned =
| line = North Island Main Trunk
| distance = Wellington {{convert|84|mi| 79|ch|abbr=on}}
| platform =
| tracks =
| other =
| structure =
| levels =
| parking =
| bicycle =
| accessible =
| code =
| zone =
| opened = 26 July 1873
| rebuilt =
| electrified =
| former =
| passengers =
| pass_system =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| services = {{s-rail|title=Historical railways}}
{{rail line
|previous=Palmerston North
Line closed
{{convert|2|mi|73|ch|abbr=on}}
|next=Longburn
Line closed
{{convert|1|mi|8|ch|abbr=on}}
|route=North Island Main Trunk
NZR
| mpassengers =
}}
| baggage_check =
| image_size =
}}Awapuni railway station was a station in Kairanga County,{{Cite web|date=1 May 1961|title=NZ Cadastral Map - Town Series: Palmerston North Map 4|url=https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/ef117240-c318-4f02-9d24-1bac33347b9e|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-09|website=manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422024421/https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/ef117240-c318-4f02-9d24-1bac33347b9e |archive-date=22 April 2017 }} on the Foxton Branch and, from 1908, the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand,{{cite book|title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas|year=1965|publisher=Quail Map Co.|pages=3 & 4|edition=First}}{{cite book|last=Pierre|first=Bill|title=North Island Main Trunk|year=1981|publisher=A.H&A.W Reed|location=Wellington|isbn=0589013165|pages=289–290}} now in the Palmerston North suburb of Awapuni. It was beside the Mangaone Stream, near its confluence with the Kawau Stream,{{Cite web|title=Mangaone Stream, Manawatu-Wanganui|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz47084/Mangaone-Stream/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}} about {{Convert|400|m|yd|abbr=on}} west of Maxwells Line on the north side of Pioneer Highway.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1950|title=Map of city of Palmerston North|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35799687|access-date=2021-04-09|website=National Library of New Zealand}} Nothing remains of the former station, except a wide verge, partly occupied by a cycleway,{{Cite web|title=State Hwy 56|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-40.3728428,175.5740965,3a,75y,287.46h,79.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sopO3RLCT2cYLWvdUrwS-Xw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Google Maps|language=en}} built in 2015.{{Cite web|date=2015-05-13|title=Bridge over the Mangaone Stream is lifted into position|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/68519844/bridge-over-the-mangaone-stream-is-lifted-into-position|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Stuff|language=en}}
History
Awa Puni station opened on the Foxton tramway on 26 July 1873,{{Cite web|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Dates_and_names.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074334/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Dates_and_names.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 |access-date=|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand}} {{Convert|21|mi|6|ch|abbr=on}} from Foxton.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 |access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en}}
A Māori petition for a platform at 3 Mile Bush on the Foxton Branch was presented on 7 August 1876. The Māori settlement at Awapuni was near the railway,{{Cite web|date=15 Jun 1878|title=ON THE LINE FROM FOXTON TO HALCOMBE. WANGANUI HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WH18780615.2.9|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} with a population of 71 in 1881.{{Cite web|title=CENSUS OF THE MAORI POPULATION, 1881|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1881/I/1541|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
The station reopened with conversion of the wooden tramway to a railway on 20 October 1876, though Awapuni wasn't shown in the timetable when services through to Whanganui began in 1878.{{Cite web|date=14 May 1878|title=WANGANUI CHRONICLE|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18780514.2.18.5|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410192447/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18780514.2.18.5 |archive-date=10 April 2021 }} A platform was mentioned in 1879.{{Cite web|date=5 Sep 1879|title=ENGINEER'S REPORT. MANAWATU HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH18790905.2.13|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} By 1884 it had a shelter shed, platform and cart approach.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 |access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en}} The platform was too short for Wellington trains, leading to complaints that some coaches stopped over the stream bridge.{{Cite web|date=10 Jul 1926|title=STOPPING OF TRAINS. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19260710.2.127|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
Along with other Foxton Branch stations, Awapuni closed on 20 July 1959, shortly after opening of the Milson Deviation on 27 July 1959. The line through Awapuni remained in use until 21 October 1960.File:Awapuni_in_1949.jpg
= Racecourse siding =
Awa Puni Racecourse station opened on 24 December 1904 and closed on 31 October 1939. Manawatu Racing Club's course opened in 1903, with a private road to the station.{{Cite web|date=9 Dec 1903|title=TURF TOPICS. NEW ZEALAND MAIL|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL19031209.2.111.3|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} In 1903 a private siding to the course was estimated to cost £2,800. The club agreed to it in 1904{{Cite web|date=9 Sep 1904|title=RACING CLUB'S RAILWAY. MANAWATU TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19040909.2.32|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and it was completed by the end of that year to allow passenger and goods trains to serve the course,{{Cite web|date=20 Dec 1904|title=Railway Extension. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19041220.2.32|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} though without a platform.{{Cite web|date=28 Jan 1911|title=SPORTING. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19110128.2.37|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} On race days trains stopped at the main station, or ran along the siding to serve race-goers.{{Cite web|date=23 Dec 1915|title=DOMINION|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19151223.2.69.6|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
By December 1911, 52 wagons could be held on the siding. In 1909 race trains served Foxton, Sanson, Feilding and Paekakariki.{{Cite web|date=16 Jan 1909|title=MANAWATU TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19090116.2.43.4|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} 2,734 travelled by train to the course in 1929/30.{{Cite web|date=16 Jan 1930|title=INCREASE SHOWN. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19300116.2.20|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} During 1938 races there were four trains a day from Palmerston and one from Wellington.{{Cite web|date=6 Jan 1938|title=Taupo Fishing. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19380106.2.68|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} In 1939, after NZR had decided the bridge was too weak for trains,{{Cite web|date=11 Jul 1939|title=NEW ROAD PLANNED. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19390711.2.48|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} the track was converted to a road.{{Cite web|date=14 Aug 1939|title=MANAWATU RACING CLUB. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19390814.2.88|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
The racecourse{{Cite web|date=7 Jul 1936|title=Control of Flood Water MANAWATU TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19360707.2.115|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and drainage board both reduced the size of the lagoon in the 1930s.{{Cite web|date=7 Nov 1939|title=Draining of Manawatu MANAWATU TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19391107.2.6|access-date=2021-04-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/aea0d298-f2f5-43ca-bb7a-fb2523b7b1aa Photo of track being lifted between Awapuni and Palmerston in 1967]
Category:Defunct railway stations in New Zealand
Category:Buildings and structures in Manawatū-Whanganui
Category:Rail transport in Manawatū-Whanganui