Mataroa railway station explained

Mataroa railway station
Country:New Zealand
Elevation:530m (1,740feet)
Line:North Island Main Trunk
Distance:Wellington 261.15km (162.27miles)
Opened:11 September 1905
Closed:Passenger 8 September 1975
Goods 22 September 1986
Electrified:June 1988

Mataroa was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line,[1] in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the village of Mataroa.[2] Mataroa is part way up a long gradient from Taihape to Waiouru, beginning at 1 in 60, but largely 1 in 70 from Mataroa to Hīhītahi,[3] so that Mataroa is 88m (289feet) above Taihape and 110m (360feet) below Ngaurukehu.

History

Construction by the Public Works Department (PWD) was well advanced by 1903.[4] By March 1905 a station yard was being formed[5] and by April 1906 it was the railhead,[6] with a pumice road running north as far as Makatote. As well as the tunnels (see below), the line from Taihape included a 70feet cutting.[7] North of Mataroa, PWD trains ran to Rangataua by July 1907[8] and to Ohakune by January 1908.[9]

PWD transferred the station to NZ Railways (NZR) on 1 June 1907, when the line was opened by the local MP, Arthur Remington,[10] after which Mataroa had 3 mixed trains a day.[11] Before that, passengers had been carried on ballast trains,[12] or passenger trains during 1906-7 Christmas and New Year holidays, goods had been carried from 11 September 1905 and regular freight began on 18 May 1906. The line to Waiouru was transferred to NZR on 1 July 1908,[13] so that passengers no longer had to change trains at Mataroa.[14]

In October 1905 a £1600 contract for station buildings was let, but in 1906 it was decided an extension was needed, so in 1907 another contract was let for £827. That station burnt down in 1928[15] and was replaced in 1929,[16] with electric lighting added in 1930.[17]

By 1 July 1907 there was a passing loop for 55 wagons, a passenger platform with a cart approach, a loading bank, a 30feet x 40feet goods shed and cattle and sheep yards. A station building, fixed signals and stationmaster's house were added by 1 August 1908. The crossing loop was extended in 1957.

From August 1906 Smith & Donald's sawmill had a 2miles tramway to the railway. Another mill was linked by 1.5miles of tramway.[18]

A cottage for railway workers was built in 1904, platelayers' cottages followed in 1907 and 1908 and 2 more state houses were added in 1954.

From December 1905 there was a telegraph line from Taihape, which was extended to Turangarere and Bennett's Siding in 1906.

A post office started on 5 June 1907, was operated by NZR staff from 16 July 1908 and removed from the station on 14 February 1969.

Mataroa had a station master[19] from 22 August 1906 until 10 November 1967.

Patronage

As shown in the table and graph below, passenger numbers were highest when passengers had to change at the station, but then fell to an average of around 20 a day. However, cattle, sheep, wool and timber traffic was heavy. Of the stations between Hamilton and Marton, Mataroa ranked around 8th in importance in terms of the value of its goods traffic.

yearticketsseason ticketsstaff
19072[20]
190819,395213[21]
190912,616973[22]
19107,364633[23]
19118,151923[24]
19129,1791123[25]
19139,5031364[26]
19149,363134[27]
19158,306166[28]
19168,392173[29]
19178,143142[30]
19187,477154[31]
19197,515120[32]
19206,978136[33]
19217,320175[34]
19226,724179[35]
19236,098183[36]
19246,545193[37]
19255,582210[38]
19265,654258[39]
19274,780182[40]
19283,700114[41]
19294,444102[42]
19304,417111[43]
19316,363108[44]
19326,00953[45]
19336,52748[46]
19347,44626[47]
19358,15718[48]
19367,5079[49]
19378,5644[50]
19387,51838[51]
19396,98713[52]
19405,9749[53]
19416,77419[54]
19428,45214[55]
19438,654[56]
19448,5831[57]
19457,823[58]
19468,736[59]
19477,595[60]
19486,791[61]
19496,776[62]
19507,078[63]

Mataroa and Hedgehog tunnels

The railway follows the Hautapu River for most of the way from Utiku to Waiouru, but, south of Mataroa, the railway burrows under Motukawa to get more directly via the Namunui Stream valley,[64] through a 660yd tunnel. Boring of the tunnel started in 1903,[65] breakthrough was made in 1904,[66] or possibly 1905,[67] [68] and it was completed in 1906.[69] The tunnel was prepared for electrification in 1984.

In 1985[70] the 120yd, curved No.12 (Hedgehog) tunnel, north of Taihape, was bypassed to facilitate electrification, reducing the distance between Taihape and Mataroa from 5ch79ch to 9.3km (05.8miles). The cost was $938,011.[71]

Bennett's Private Siding

H.D. Bennett had a sawmill 1 November 1905 applied for a siding, 2ch30ch from Taihape. It was built in 1906 with space for 38 wagons and serving four sawmills. The locality is now known as Bennetts Siding.[72]

Incidents

There have been slips on the line from the beginning. They overturned locomotives in 1907[73] and 1918.[74] Four were killed when an express hit a slip later in 1918[75] and the same slip blocked the line again the next month.[76] More slips occurred in 1920,[77] 1923,[78] 1924,[79] 1930,[80] 1939,[81] 1940,[82] and 1945,[83] a guard's van was derailed in 1941[84] and the line closed twice in 1942, firstly by a landslip,[85] then a derailed goods train.[86]

A train driver was killed in 1919 when the brakes failed and his train ran out of control down the hill.[87]

External links

Photos -

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scoble. Juliet. Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010. Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  2. Web site: 1928. Sheet: WN8. 2020-09-26. www.mapspast.org.nz.
  3. Web site: North Island Main Trunk Historic Area. 2020-10-04. www.heritage.org.nz.
  4. Web site: 18 Jan 1903. Te Kapua Notes. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  5. Web site: Stations. 2020-08-10. NZR Rolling Stock Lists. en.
  6. Web site: 11 Apr 1906. WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND. NEW ZEALAND MAIL. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  7. Web site: 5 Jun 1907. OPENING OF THE MATAROA RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  8. Web site: 23 Jul 1907. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  9. Web site: 15 Feb 1908. OVER THE MAIN TRUNK. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  10. Web site: 3 Jun 1907. MAIN TRUNK LINE. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  11. Web site: 29 May 1907. LOCAL AND GENERAL. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  12. Web site: 24 Jul 1906. Main Trunk Railway. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  13. Web site: 10 Jun 1908. MAIN TRUNK LINE. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  14. Web site: 2 Jul 1908. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. WANGANUI CHRONICLE. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  15. Web site: 9 Feb 1928. DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. WAIKATO TIMES. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  16. Web site: RAILWAYS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, THE HON. W. B. TAVERNER. APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1929 SESSION I, D-02. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  17. Web site: RAILWAYS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, THE HON. W. A. VEITCH. APPENDIX TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1930 SESSION I, D-02. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  18. Web site: 6 June 1913. IN THE WAIMARINO. WANGANUI CHRONICLE. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  19. Web site: 10 Jul 1939. RAILWAY POSTS. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  20. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1907. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  21. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  22. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1909. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  23. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1910. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  24. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1911. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  25. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1912. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  26. Web site: RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1913. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  27. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1914. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  28. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1915. 2020-10-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  29. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1916. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  30. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1917. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  31. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1918. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  32. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1919. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  33. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1920. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  34. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1921. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  35. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1922. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
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  37. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1924. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  38. Web site: RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1925. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  39. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1926. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  40. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1927. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
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  46. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1933. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  47. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1934. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
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  53. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1940. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  54. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1941. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  55. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1942. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  56. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1943. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  57. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1944. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  58. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1945. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  59. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1946. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  60. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1947. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  61. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1948. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  62. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1949. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  63. Web site: STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31st March, 1950. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  64. Web site: Mataroa, Manawatu-Wanganui. 2020-10-04. NZ Topo Map. en.
  65. Web site: 9 Mar 1903. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. EVENING STAR. 2020-10-05. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  66. Web site: 4 Apr 1904. MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. EVENING POST. 2020-10-05. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  67. Web site: 23 Nov 1904. Taihape and Moawhango. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-05. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  68. Web site: 24 Mar 1905. NEW SEASON'S BLOUSINGS. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-05. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  69. Web site: 5 Feb 1906. LOCAL AND GENERAL. WANGANUI CHRONICLE. 2020-10-05. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  70. Web site: TUNNELS. 2020-10-04. railheritage.org.nz.
  71. Web site: 1984. NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE No. 44.
  72. Web site: Bennetts Siding, Manawatu-Wanganui. 2020-10-05. NZ Topo Map. en.
  73. Web site: 15 Jun 1907. RAILWAY ACCIDENT. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  74. Web site: 29 Jun 1918. Slips on Main Trunk Railway. MANAWATU TIMES. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  75. Web site: 8 Nov 1918. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  76. Web site: 6 Dec 1918. MAIN TRUNK BLOCKED. WANGANUI HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  77. Web site: 1 Oct 1920. SLIPS NEAR TAIHAPE. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  78. Web site: 30 Jun 1923. SLIP ON RAILWAY. MANAWATU TIMES. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  79. Web site: 25 Jun 1924. SLIPS ON RAILWAY. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  80. Web site: 25 Nov 1930. EXTENSIVE SLIP. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  81. Web site: 19 Aug 1939. THE FLOOD WATERS. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  82. Web site: 27 Feb 1940. WEARY JOURNEY. NEW ZEALAND HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  83. Web site: 30 Oct 1945. MAIN TRUNK SLIP. NEW ZEALAND HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  84. Web site: 6 Aug 1941. RAILWAY MISHAP. NEW ZEALAND HERALD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  85. Web site: 29 Sep 1942. RAILWAY SLIP. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  86. Web site: 27 Oct 1942. WAGONS DERAILED. AUCKLAND STAR. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  87. Web site: 15 May 1919. Main Trunk Smash. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2020-10-04. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.

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