Bunnythorpe 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 = Bunnythorpe railway station
| image = Bunnythorpe about 1916.jpg
| image_caption = Bunnythorpe about 1916
| address =
| country = New Zealand
| coordinates = {{coord|-40.283532|175.631532|type:railwaystation_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = {{convert|55|m|abbr=on}}
| owned = KiwiRail
| line = North Island Main Trunk
| distance = Wellington {{convert|144.75|km|abbr=on}}
| platform = 1
| tracks =
| structure =
| levels =
| opened = {{start date|df=y|1876|10|19}}
| closed = Passengers {{end date|df=y|1985|4|13}}
Goods {{end date|df=y|1981|12|6}}
| rebuilt =
| electrified = 25 kV 50 Hz AC June 1988
| services = {{s-rail|title=Historical railways}}
{{rail line
|previous=Taonui
Line open,
station closed
{{convert|2.98 |km|abbr=on}}
|next=Terrace End
Line closed,
station closed
{{convert|4|mi|73|ch|abbr=on}}
|route=North Island Main Trunk
NZR
}}
{{rail line
|previous=Taonui
Line open,
station closed
{{convert|2.98 |km|abbr=on}}
|next=Palmerston North
Line open,
station open
{{convert|8.52|km|abbr=on}}
|route=North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
}}
}}
Bunnythorpe railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand,{{cite book|title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas|publisher=Quail Map Co.|year=1965|edition=First|pages=3 & 4}}{{cite book|last=Pierre|first=Bill|title=North Island Main Trunk|publisher=A.H&A.W Reed|year=1981|isbn=0589013165|location=Wellington|pages=289–290}} serving the village of Bunnythorpe.{{Cite web|title=Bunnythorpe, Manawatu-Wanganui|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz47157/Bunnythorpe/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}}
The station opened on 19 October 1876 and closed on 6 December 1981 for goods traffic. When closed for passengers on 13 April 1985, the crossing loop was relocated to Taonui.Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012)
History
By July 1876 the rails were in place, linking Palmerston North and Feilding,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=25 Jul 1876|title=PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWARD RICHARDSON|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1876/I/1021|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-21|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and ballasting was finished in September.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=THE FIELDING SETTLEMENT (REPORT ON THE PROGRESS AND PRESENT CONDITION OF). APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1877|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1877-I.2.2.3.29|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-21|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} The formal opening of the railway was on 19 October 1876.{{Cite web|date=20 Oct 1876|title=LOCAL AND GENERAL. WANGANUI CHRONICLE|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18761020.2.8|access-date=2021-03-05|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
In 1879 there were plans to link Ashhurst via a {{Convert|6+1/2|mi|abbr=on}} line to Bunnythorpe, rather than Palmerston North.{{Cite web|title=PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. RICHARD OLIVER, TUESDAY, 9TH DECEMBER, 1879|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1879/II/466|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929190311/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1879/II/466 |archive-date=29 September 2021 }} It seems the plan was changed when, in 1881,{{Cite web|date=4 Mar 1881|title=MANAWATU HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH18810304.2.10|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} the Wellington and Manawatu Railway decided on Palmerston North as a terminus.{{Cite web|date=22 Jan 1940|title=EARLY PALMERSTON NORTH. MANAWATU STANDARD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19400122.2.143|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021195852/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19400122.2.143 |archive-date=21 October 2020 }} Construction of the link was again considered in 1902.{{Cite web|date=24 Apr 1902|title=BUNNYTHORPE-ASHHURST LINE. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS19020424.2.6|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
Initially the name Bunnythorpe was used north of the railway and, to the south, a name popularised from 1866 by Charles Dickens' series of short railway stories, Mugby Junction.{{Cite web|date=2013-07-31|title=Summer voyages: Mugby Junction by Charles Dickens and Others|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/jul/31/summer-voyages-charles-dickens-mugby-junction|access-date=2021-03-09|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=1903|title=Chapter V. — The Early Days|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-BuiMana-t1-body-d5.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-09|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009032720/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-BuiMana-t1-body-d5.html |archive-date=9 October 2016 }}
File:1877_Foxton_Feilding_railway_timetable.jpg
Bunnythorpe was served by 2 or 3 trains a day,{{Cite web|date=30 Mar 1878|title=THE RAILWAY SERVICE. WANGANUI HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WH18780330.2.8|access-date=2021-03-08|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} before becoming a flag station in 1879, served by 3 trains a day.{{Cite web|date=21 Aug 1879|title=WANGANUI CHRONICLE|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18790821.2.2.3|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-08|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129191326/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18790821.2.2.3 |archive-date=29 January 2021 }} From 1887 there were complaints about how few trains stopped at the station{{Cite web|date=12 May 1887|title=Railway Bungling. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS18870512.2.19|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}{{Cite web|date=21 Jul 1893|title=Bunnythorpe Tram Service. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS18930721.2.4|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and an extra train stopped from 1894.{{Cite web|date=8 Sep 1894|title=Local and General News. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS18940908.2.7|access-date=2021-03-09|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} However, it had stopped calling by 1906.{{Cite web|date=4 Aug 1906|title=Railway Service. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS19060804.2.4|access-date=2021-03-11|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} By 1908 there were again 3 trains a day, but complaints of long waits. In 1909 a request for a carriage to be added to the afternoon goods train was rejected. The line became part of the NIMT, when it fully opened in 1909. The Auckland express was stopping in 1924.{{Cite web|date=9 Sep 1924|title=PERSONAL. FEILDING STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS19240909.2.17|access-date=2021-03-14|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
By 1884 Bunnythorpe had a shelter shed on a passenger platform. Between 1891 and 1896 a goods shed was added and, in 1902, a loading bank. By 1902 a passing loop could hold 50 wagons and it was extended in 1959. In 1905 the platform was lengthened and a new station building opened. By 1911 there were also sheep yards. Huts were provided for tablet porters in 1919 and 1930. Railway houses were added in 1905, 1954 and 1956. In 1960 CTC signalling was put in between Bunnythorpe and Longburn and extended to Feilding on 23 August 1964. A new station was built in 1956 and, in 1960 and 1964, the goods loading shelter was extended. A concrete block building was added in 1991.{{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 station was demolished in 1975.{{Cite web|title=Bunnythorpe Railway Station, c. 1900's|url=https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/86a1edea-e2fc-451f-a10e-961455ba3d6e|access-date=2021-03-09|website=www.feildingheritage.nz|language=en}} By 1969 the sheep yards had been removed and on 6 December 1981 Bunnythorpe closed to all, except private siding traffic.
Freight hub
KiwiRail started the formal planning process in October 2020 for a freight hub, just south of Bunnythorpe. It is planned to include a container terminal, warehousing, bulk goods and forestry loading, train maintenance and cater for trains up to {{Convert|1.5|km|abbr=on}} long.{{Cite web|title=Regional Freight Hub|url=https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/what-we-do/projects/regional-freight-hub/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=KiwiRail|language=en-US}} Public submissions on the scheme were invited in 2021.{{Cite web|title=KiwiRail regional freight hub|url=https://www.pncc.govt.nz/participate-palmy/have-your-say/kiwirail-regional-freight-hub/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.pncc.govt.nz|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Photos of station - [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/0721f04d-3c66-444f-85e2-47d5d7776afa interior], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/4cbba912-b266-4601-aa6c-afd2a0827aaa 1897], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/19fb519a-543a-44eb-b002-3d170a325ee6 1945], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/6d5b0985-fec1-42fc-aea2-0fa4fbe30529 1952 aerial] [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/3757728e-216a-41c2-b4af-b188714b66eb 1953], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/f5b6b50f-a210-4eca-977b-ac2cf7dead93 1956] [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/3c775651-08bc-4bf4-91de-5c278ab5d8fc] [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/033ce610-0c2d-46ff-88b5-1504b86c4dc7] [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/5063a226-9a3e-4e9b-8bbe-2161575b54ea], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/c64e6c71-797b-4c1c-9f86-7dd8618d3fcd 1957] [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/6204eccd-bef0-4415-b89b-c6a9f6267600], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/d9136fce-8a6c-4a0c-8f71-c6152b8c0584 1959], [https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/e71a5093-aa66-46f4-a24e-c43327f5195f with Royal Hotel], [https://www.feildingheritage.nz/item/6d5b0985-fec1-42fc-aea2-0fa4fbe30529 1960]
Category:Defunct railway stations in New Zealand
Category:Rail transport in Manawatū-Whanganui
Category:Buildings and structures in Manawatū-Whanganui
Category:Railway stations in New Zealand opened in 1876