Raurimu railway station explained

Raurimu railway station
Country:New Zealand
Coordinates:-39.1193°N 175.3965°W
Elevation:592m (1,942feet)
Owned:KiwiRail
Line:North Island Main Trunk
Distance:Wellington 358.44km (222.72miles)
Platform:1
Rebuilt:10 July 1977
Electrified:25 kV 50 Hz AC June 1988
Former:Pukerimu until 29 October 1906

Raurimu railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk, and in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

It opened in 1906 and closed in 1978. It was known as Pukerimu from 1906 to 1908.[1]

The Raurimu Spiral is from the station, and rises to the National Park railway station on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; on a direct line this would be a gradient of 1 in 24, but the Raurimu Spiral reduces the gradient to a (still steep) 1 in 52.

History

In 1906 the administrative office of the northern section of the Public Works Department (PWD) which was building the NIMT was moved to a group of "tents and huts" at Raurimu, and at its zenith the Raurimu community numbered a thousand men, women and children.[2]

Trains started running to Raurimu from 13 December 1906.[3] From 10 May 1907 goods were carried to Raurimu by rail.[4] Trains started running to the next station at Waimarino (National Park) from 23 December 1907.[5] The NIMT was opened to through Auckland to Wellington trains from 9 November 1908,[6] though only southbound expresses stopped at Raurimu.[7] A by 5th class station was built in 1906, with stationmaster's, lobby, and ladies rooms, a by platform, loading bank, cattle yards, by goods shed with verandah, privies, urinals, water tanks and passing loop for 58 wagons.

Raurimu closed to passengers before December 1975,

The settlement of Raurimu in the early 20th century had two bush tramways for forestry; Knight's tram, Raurimu of the Raumiru Sawmilling Co (1935-1957) and a tramway of the Pokata Timber Co (1930-1957).

Notes and References

  1. https://railheritage.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Dates_and_names.pdf Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand
  2. Book: Pierre, W.A. (Bill) . North Island Main Trunk: An Illustrated History . 1981 . . Auckland . 0-589-01316-5 . 92.
  3. Web site: 14 Dec 1906. TAUMARUNUI. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. 2021-03-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  4. Web site: Stations. 2020-08-10. NZR Rolling Stock Lists. en.
  5. Web site: 23 Dec 1907. RANGITIKEI ADVOCATE AND MANAWATU ARGUS. 2021-03-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  6. Web site: 11 Nov 1908. THE NORTHERN MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR. 2021-03-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  7. Web site: 2 Dec 1909. WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND. MANAWATU STANDARD. 2021-03-03. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.