Te Koura railway station
{{short description|Railway station in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Te Koura railway station
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| country = New Zealand
| coordinates = {{Coord|-38.7697| 175.2473|region:NZ-AUK_type:railwaystation|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = {{convert|182|m|abbr=on}}
| owned =
| line = North Island Main Trunk
| distance = Wellington {{convert|412.94|km|abbr=on}}
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| opened = 1 December 1903
| closed = 10 October 1971
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| electrified = June 1988
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| services = {{s-rail|title=Historical railways}}
{{rail line
|previous=Ongarue
Line open, station closed
|next=Okahukura
Line open, station closed
|route=North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
}}
}}
Te Koura was flag station{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1119|title=Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1918|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand in the Ōngarue valley.{{Cite web|url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} When opened in 1903 it had sidings, a platform and a goods shed,{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1903/I/1788|title=Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1903|last=|first=|date=|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}} The line was useable from February 1903{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19030211.2.24|title=NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR|last=|first=|date=11 Feb 1903|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}} and goods traffic started on 22 June 1903.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19030620.2.77.5|title=Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 NEW ZEALAND HERALD|last=|first=|date=20 June 1903|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}}
The station served a small settlement, which existed before the railway came{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18900419.2.40.5|title=IS THE WANGANUI RIVER STRAIGHT? WAIKATO TIMES|last=|first=|date=19 April 1890|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18950416.2.24|title=THE RIVAL ROUTES. AUCKLAND STAR|last=|first=|date=15 April 1895|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}} and where about a mile of riverside terrace was cultivated.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19001203.2.20|title=MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR|last=|first=|date=3 Dec 1900|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}} In 2013 meshblock 1030000, which includes Te Koura, had a population of 51 in 27 houses.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|title=2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place|website=archive.stats.govt.nz|access-date=2020-04-01}} Nearby Te Koura Marae has a memorial to victims of the 1918 flu epidemic.{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26595/monument-to-flu-victims|title=Monument to flu victims|last1=Godber|first1=Albert Percy|last2=Taonga|first2=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2020-04-02}}
In 1911 the new line to Stratford was planned to have its junction {{Convert|1.5|mi||abbr=on}} south of Te Koura.{{Cite web|url=http://nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/raa19112gv1911n26357.pdf|title=Railways Authorization Act 1911|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} The junction opened in 1933 at Okahukura, {{Convert|4.4|km||abbr=on}} to the south.{{cite book|title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas|publisher=Quail Map Co.|year=1965|edition=First|pages=3 & 4}} In 1912 it was referred to as Te Koura Railway.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19120203.2.21|title=TE KOURA RAILWAY. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE|last=|first=|date=3 Feb 1912|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}}
In 1964 the station had 3 railway houses alongside,{{Cite web|url=http://retrolens.nz/map/#/1794968.2259629453/5706197.231300316/1795723.041617365/5706713.778405595/2193/13|title=Te Koura 30/10/1964 SN1681|last=|first=|date=|website=retrolens.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}} but by 1972 only one was left.{{Cite web|url=http://retrolens.nz/map/#/1794968.2259629453/5706197.231300316/1795723.041617365/5706713.778405595/2193/13|title=Te Koura 25/05/1971 SN3471|last=|first=|date=|website=retrolens.nz|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-02}}