Okahukura railway station
{{short description|Former railway station in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Okahukura railway station
| type =
| image = File:Okahukura station site in 2019.jpg
| image_caption = Okahukura station site in 2019
Double deck bridge on Stratford branch in background
| address =
| country = New Zealand
| coordinates = {{coord|-38.801591|175.22378|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = {{convert|178|m|abbr=on}}
| owned =
| line = North Island Main Trunk
| distance = Wellington {{convert|408.54|km|abbr=on}}
| platform =
| tracks =
| other =
| structure =
| levels =
| parking =
| bicycle =
| accessible =
| code =
| zone =
| opened = 1912
| closed = Before Dec 1975 passenger
27 August 1978 goods{{cite web| url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf| first=Juliet| last=Scoble| title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand| date=April 2010| publisher=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand}}
| rebuilt =
| electrified = June 1988
| former = Okahukora to 7 Aug 1913
| mpassengers =
| passengers = 11,940
| pass_system =
| pass_year = 1934
| pass_percent =
| services = {{s-rail|title=Historical railways}}
{{rail line
|previous = Te Koura
Line open, station closed
|next = Taringamotu
Line open, station closed
|route = North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
}}
}}Okahukura 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}}
The station opened when work started on the eastern end of the Stratford–Okahukura Line. It was served by through trains on that line from 3 September 1933 (though rails were completed by 7 November 1932){{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19331124.2.96|title=RAILWAY WORKS. MANAWATU STANDARD|last=|first=|date=24 Nov 1933|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-26}} to 2009, being {{Convert|9.65|km||abbr=on}} east of Tuhua. The Public Works Department operated a limited train service as far as Matiere from 1922.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19220523.2.65|title=MATIERE RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR|last=|first=|date=23 May 1922|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-26}} A junction with the NIMT at Ongarue,{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19321108.2.5|title=STRATFORD-MAIN TRUNK. STRATFORD EVENING POST|last=|first=|date=8 Nov 1932|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-26}} and even as far north as Puketutu{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19071109.2.65|title=PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. AUCKLAND STAR|last=|first=|date=9 Nov 1907|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-31}} (via Mokauiti and Ohura){{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19071115.2.5|title=DISTRICT PARS. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE|last=|first=|date=15 Nov 1907|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-31}} had been considered before the Okahukura route was decided in 1911.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1912/II/2366|title=PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. BY THE HON. WILLIAM FRASER, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1912|last=|first=|date=18 Oct 1912|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}} Work started shortly{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19130426.2.61|title=SLOW RAILWAY-MAKING. TARANAKI DAILY NEWS|last=|first=|date=26 April 1913|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}} after Sir Joseph Ward had turned the first sod, including the construction of workshops and 4 railway houses at Okahukura,{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19130317.2.22|title=THE STRATFORD RAILWAY. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|last=|first=|date=17 March 1913|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}} and the station opened the following year. It seems that the initial service was provided by coaches attached to goods trains.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19120927.2.19|title=TAUMARUNUI TRAINS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|last=|first=|date=27 Sep 1912|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}}
A cattle yard and goods shed were added in 1915.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1611|title=RAILWAYS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, THE HON. W. H. HERRIES. APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1915|last=|first=|date=|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}} In 1916 a porter was paid 9 shillings a week.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1129|title=MEMBERS OF THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1916|last=|first=|date=|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-27}}
Patronage
File:Okahukura_railway_station_passenger_use_1928-1950.jpg
Passenger numbers peaked in 1934, as shown in the graph and table below -
| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!year !tickets !season tickets !staff !source |
| 1928
|9,219 |59 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2628 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1928"] |
| 1929
|9,379 |64 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2090 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1929"] |
| 1930
|8,654 |63 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2212 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1930"] |
| 1931
|11,279 |90 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1778 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1931"] |
| 1932
|9,910 |111 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1934 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1932"] |
| 1933
|10,822 |160 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1388 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933"] |
| 1934
|11,940 |119 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2278 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934"] |
| 1935
|6,739 |129 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1326 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1935"] |
| 1936
|6,575 |129 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1552 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1936"] |
| 1937
|5,989 |130 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1896 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1937"] |
| 1938
|5,062 |114 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1652 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1938"] |
| 1939
|5,431 |121 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1970 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1939"] |
| 1940
|3,983 |110 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1314 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940"] |
| 1941
|5,094 |79 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1203 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941"] |
| 1942
|6,202 |111 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/651 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942"] |
| 1943
|6,536 |138 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/679 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1943"] |
| 1944
|6,478 |144 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/895 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1944"] |
| 1945
|6,757 |106 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/969 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1945"] |
| 1946
|7,254 |86 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1548 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946"] |
| 1947
|6,012 |72 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2495 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947"] |
| 1948
|4,899 |14 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2521 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948"] |
| 1949
|3,279 |14 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2104 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949"] |
| 1950
|3,340 |26 | |[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2366 "STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950"] |
Road-rail bridge
The concrete foundations of the {{Convert|260|ft||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19230307.2.160.5|title=RAILWAY TO MATIERE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|last=|first=|date=7 March 1923|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-26}} road-rail bridge over the Ongarue River, on the Stratford line had been laid by 1918, but war-time steel shortages delayed further work.{{Cite book|last=Representatives|first=New Zealand Parliament House of|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=We0kAQAAIAAJ&q=Okahukura+road+rail+bridge&pg=PA885|title=Parliamentary Debates|date=1918|language=en}} The first piles were sunk in 1916 and it had been completed by January 1922.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19220111.2.32|title=STRATFORD RAILWAY. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|last=|first=|date=11 Jan 1922|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-26}}
In 2019 reopening of the line was listed as a possible future priority.{{Cite web|url=https://transport.cwp.govt.nz/assets/Import/Uploads/Rail/The-Draft-NZ-Rail-Plan-December-19.pdf|title=The Draft New Zealand Rail Plan|last=|first=|date=December 2019|website=Ministry of Transport|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
Okahukura tunnel
{{Convert|76|ch||abbr=on}} long Okahukura tunnel, is {{Convert|2|mi||abbr=on}} up from Okahukura, along the Stratford line, on a 1 in 50 gradient. It was started in February 1914 and completed in December 1920, after digging out {{Convert|58000|yd3||abbr=on}} of mudstone.
References
{{reflist}}
