Thames Branch
{{Short description|Railway line in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Thames Branch
| other_name = Waitoa Branch
| color = 6699FF
| logo =
| image = Former Train Station, Goods Shed In Thames.jpg
| image_width = 300
| caption = The former station in Thames.
| type = Heavy Rail
| system = New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR)
| status = Closed Waitoa - Thames
Open Morrinsville - Waitoa
| locale = Waikato, New Zealand
| start = Morrinsville
| end = Thames
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = {{Start date|1898|12|19|df=y}} (Hamilton - Thames){{sfn|Leitch|Scott|1995|p=15}}
| event1label = Junction moved to Paeroa
| event1 = {{Start date|1905|11||df=y}}
| event2label = Junction moved to Morrinsville
| event2 = {{Start date|1978|09|12|df=y}}
| event3label = Closed beyond Waitoa
| event3 = {{Start date|1995|05|31|df=y}}
| close =
| owner = New Zealand Railways Corporation (land)
KiwiRail (track)
| operator = KiwiRail (as far as Waitoa dairy factory)
| character = Rural
| stock = None
| linelength = {{convert|74.07|km|abbr=on}} Morrinsville - Thames
{{convert|11|km|abbr=on}} Open http://www.ew.govt.nz/PageFiles/11027/TR0522.pdf Waikato Regional Land Transport Strategy - Transport Baseline Report, May 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523044133/http://ew.govt.nz/PageFiles/11027/TR0522.pdf |date=23 May 2010 }}
| tracklength =
| tracks = Single
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm}}
| electrification =
| speed =
| elevation =
| map =
| map_state = expanded
}}
{{Routemap
|navbar = Thames Branch
|title = Thames Branch
|title-color = white
|title-bg =
|text-width=80
|map=
-startCollapsible-collapsed
exKBHFa~~{{BScvt|in=|46.02}}~~{{rws|Thames North}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|45.06}}~~{{rws|Thames}}
hbKRZWae~~Kauaeranga River
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|43.92}}~~{{rws|Parawai}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|41.79}}~~{{rws|Kopu}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|39.3}}~~{{rws|Matatoki}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|37}}~~{{rws|Puriri}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|36.64}}~~{{rws|Omahu}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|33.54}}~~{{rws|Wharepoa Rd}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|32.49}}~~{{rws|Hikutaia}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|29.46}}~~{{rws|Komata North}}
\exBHF\~~{{BScvt|in=|27.41}}~~{{rws|Paeroa}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|26.81}}~~{{rws|Paeroa Township}}
hbKRZWae~~Ohinemuri River
\exKRWgl%2Bl\!~exHST+r~~{{BScvt|in=km|25.23}}~~{{rws|Paeroa South}}
exSTR~~former East Coast Main Trunk
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|21.3}}~~{{rws|Tirohia}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|18.4}}~~{{rws|Waitoki}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|15.36}}~~{{rws|Mangaiti}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|14.36}}~~{{rws|Tui Pa}}
\HST\~~{{BScvt|in=|12.81}}~~{{rws|Te Aroha}}
hbKRZWae~~Waihou River
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|12.34}}~~{{rws|Herriesville}}
\exHST\~~{{BScvt|in=|9.83}}~~{{rws|Waihou}}
hbKRZWae~~Waitoa River
\HST\~~{{BScvt|in=|6.74}}~~{{rws|Waitoa}}
\HST\~~{{BScvt|in=|4.3}}~~{{rws|Tatuanui}}
\HST\~~{{BScvt|in=|1.78}}~~{{rws|Piako}}
hbKRZWae~~Piako River
\KRWl\KRW+lr~~East Coast Main Trunk
\\BHF~~{{BScvt|in=|0}}~~Morrinsville
-endCollapsible-
}}
{{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line}}
The Thames Branch railway line connected Thames, New Zealand, with Hamilton and was originally part of the East Coast Main Trunk railway. Part of the line between Morrinsville and Waitoa remains open and is in use as the Waitoa Branch line, connecting to the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Waitoa.
History
The discovery of gold in the Thames area in 1852[http://www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journal/01/river_thames_history.htm The History of gold mining on "The River Thames"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015072718/http://www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journal/01/river_thames_history.htm |date=15 October 2009 }} - Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 1, June 1964, A.M. Isdale B.A. provided the impetus for building a railway line from Auckland to Thames.{{sfn|Churchman|Hurst|2001|p=107}} In 1873 surveying was carried out for the Thames to Waikato line. This surveying was disrupted by natives from Ohinemuri. Despite the opposition the surveyor wrote that most natives supported the railway line.{{cite book |last1=Vennell |first1=C. W. |last2=More |first2=David |title=Land of the Three Rivers: A Centennial History of Piako County |page=196|date=1976 |publisher=Wilson & Horton}} Thames to serve the gold mining industry. Surveys were completed in 1878, despite opposition from local Maori, putting the cost of the 54 km line at £178,000. The {{Convert|32|mi||abbr=on}} Thames-Te Aroha section had cost £159,340{{Cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18981219.2.53|title=Thames Railway.|date=1898-12-19|work=Auckland Star|access-date=2018-06-17|pages=5}} (about $30m in 2018 values){{Cite web|url=https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator|title=Inflation calculator|website=RBNZ}} when opened. Premier Sir George Grey turned the first sod of the line at Thames on 21 December 1878, but 18 months later work from Thames was stopped by the 1880 Royal Commission ordered by Grey's successor.{{sfn|Churchman|Hurst|2001|p=107}} The track bed had been built as far as Kopu by 1884,{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1884-II.2.1.5.1|title=D-01 PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWARD RICHARDSON, 24th OCTOBER, 1884. (Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1884-01-01)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-07-13}} employing about 30 men.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18841001.2.15|title=Papers Past {{!}} Thames to Kopu Railway. (Thames Star, 1884-10-01)|last=Zealand|first=National Library of New|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-07-14}}
Construction of the section from Hamilton continued, albeit slowly. The line crossed the Waikato River and was opened from Morrinsville to Te Aroha on 1 March 1886, to Paeroa on 20 December 1895, and finally to Thames on 19 December 1898.[http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/Morrinsville/Morrinsville/en Morrinsville] - Te Ara, Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966 The Minister of Railways, Alfred Cadman, drove the first train into Thames, headed by an F class locomotive.{{sfn|Churchman|Hurst|2001|p=107}}
One of the lines first major traffic sources was A & G Price of Thames, who started producing locomotives for NZGR from 1904.
Following the completion of the North Island Main Trunk in 1908, the government began planning the East Coast Main Trunk in 1909, eventually to connect to Gisborne. Work began in 1911 on a link from Paeroa through the Karangahake Gorge to Waihi. From this stage the Thames Branch was defined as Paeroa to Thames, with the Morrinsville - Paeroa section being designated as part of the East Coast Main Trunk.
In 1928 the passenger service was being provided by a steam railcar.{{Cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19280107.2.26&srpos=461&zto=1|title=Local And General News.|date=1928-01-07|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|pages=8|access-date=2016-05-30}} Station closed to passengers on 28 March 1951. {{cite web |last1=Juliet |first1=Scoble |title=Station Opening and Closing Dates |url=https://railheritage.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Dates_and_names.pdf |website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand |access-date=10 May 2024}} Freight was declining by 1930, leading to the loss of the porter at Puriri.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19300205.2.32|title=LESS TRAFFIC BY RAIL. (New Zealand Herald, 1930-02-05)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-07-14}}
The opening of the Kaimai Tunnel in 1978 and the closure of the Paeroa - Katikati section of the East Coast Main Trunk led to the re-designation of the Morrinsville - Thames section as the Thames Branch.{{sfn|Churchman|Hurst|2001|p=107}}
Scheduled trains to Thames ceased in 1985. The last service on the line was on 28 June 1991, following the reduction in output from the Toyota New Zealand assembly plant at Thames resulting in loss of traffic.{{sfn|Leitch|Scott|1995|p=16}} While New Zealand Rail did attempt to win this traffic back,{{sfn|Leitch|Scott|1995|p=16}} the branch was officially closed on 31 May 1995.{{cite journal|journal=New Zealand Railway Observer|publisher=New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society|date=1995|last=Hermann|first=Bruce|title=Small Lots|page=62|number=222}} The Toyota plant closed for vehicle assembly in 1997{{sfn|Leitch|Scott|1995|p=15}} and {{convert|60|km}} of track was then lifted between Thames and the dairy factory at Waitoa. In 2004 the section of the line as far as Waitoa, which was still in place, was re-opened for dairy traffic, as part of Fonterra's policy of reviewing its transport links.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0411/S00168.htm|title=Fonterra and Toll Sign 20-year Rail Agreement {{!}} Scoop News|website=www.scoop.co.nz|access-date=2018-07-14}}
The Thames Railway Station building of 1898 survives as it was listed by NZHPT Category II in 1982.[http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/719 NZHPT listing with photo] It is a standard Vintage station, with gables, finials and scalloped bargeboards.[https://railheritage.org.nz/buildings/thames-station/ Rail Heritage Trust - Thames]
Services
Stations
File:Parawai_railway_station_site_and_Thames_airport.jpg
File:Mangaiti_railway_station_site.jpg
Stations were at Thames North (formerly known as Grahamstown, then Thames), Thames (Shortland until 1 October 1915 and Thames South until 28 April 1929),{{Cite web|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=2010|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations|url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand}} Parawai, Kopu, Matatoki, Puriri, Omahu, Wharepoa Rd, Hikutaia, Komata North, Paeroa (junction for Tauranga), Tirohia, Waitoki, Mangaiti, Tui Pa, Te Aroha, Herriesville, Waihou, Waitoa (current terminus), Tatuanui, Piako and the present junction with the ECMT at Morrinsville.{{sfn|Yonge|1985|p=4}}
Cycleway
Most of the former rail alignment is now part of the Hauraki Rail Trail of the New Zealand Cycle Trail network, with the local councils in 2011 securing a 20-year lease, though the option of prior termination remains should KiwiRail intend to relay the railway to run trains along the corridor again.[http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/05/15/thames-line-handed-to-cycleway/ Thames Line Handed To Cycleway] - AKT Blog, 15 May 2011
See also
References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{Churchman & Hurst Railways of New Zealand}}
- Hermann, Bruce J; North Island Branch Lines pp 19–24 (2007, New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, Wellington) {{ISBN|978-0-908573-83-7}}
- {{cite book|last1=Leitch|first1=David|last2=Scott|first2=Brian|title=Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways|publisher=Grantham House|location=Wellington|year=1995|edition=1998|ISBN=1-86934-048-5}}
- {{cite book |last= Mulligan |first= Barbara |title= New Zealand Rail Trails: A Guide to 42 Ghost Lines |year= 2000 |publisher= Grantham House Publishing |location= Wellington |isbn= 978-1-86934-126-8 |page= 25}}
- {{cite book| first=John| last=Yonge| title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas| year=1985| publisher=Quail Map Company| edition=Third| isbn=090060932X}}
{{refend}}
External links
{{Commons category|Thames Branch}}
- [https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAN18880317.2.45 1888 timetable]
- [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/187634 1907 photo of Parawai station]
- [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/Gov09_05Rail-fig-Gov09_05Rail032a.html Paeroa Junction]
- [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/215498 1915 photo of Thames-Auckland train derailment at Tirohia]
- [http://www.morrinsvilleheritagecentre.org.nz/ Morrinsville Heritage Centre]
- [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Gov07_05Rail-t1-body-d15.htm 1932 New Zealand Railways Magazine article on Auckland District railways]
- [https://railsoc.org.nz/archive-images/as6/ 1947 photo of train arriving at Puriri]
- [https://www.facebook.com/1016672045011633/photos/a.1016753408336830/1068132209865616/?type=1&theater 1978 photo of train at Te Aroha]
- [https://www.morrinsvillemuseum.org.nz/wp-content/gallery/railways/P-321.jpg Photo of shelter at Tatuanui]
- Videos of trains [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-3G_UDhZyI Pukekohe to Paeroa] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2NmVi8F0jQ Paeroa to Thames] around 1988
{{NZR Lines}}
Category:Railway lines in New Zealand
Category:Rail transport in Waikato
Category:Railway lines opened in 1898
Category:Railway lines closed in 1991