Ngaere railway station
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Ngaere
New Zealand
Ngaere | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ngaere Railway Station as seen in 1918, with the scene of a motor accident in the foreground. | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Location | Mountain Road Ngaere New Zealand | ||||
| Coordinates | 39°23′23.7″S 174°17′57.5″E / 39.389917°S 174.299306°E | ||||
| Elevation | 253 metres (830 ft) | ||||
| System | New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) Regional rail | ||||
| Line | Marton–New Plymouth line | ||||
| Distance | 157.37 kilometres (97.79 mi) from Marton | ||||
| Platforms | Single side | ||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||
| Construction | |||||
| Structure type | at-grade | ||||
| Parking | yes | ||||
| Architectural style | Vogel-era Class 5 (1880 building) | ||||
| History | |||||
| Opened | 27 September 1880 | ||||
| Closed | Passenger: 24 January 1966 Freight: 21 December 1964 | ||||
| Previous names | Ngaire (until 1 May 1909) | ||||
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Ngaere railway station (Ngaire until 1909) was a rural station on the Marton–New Plymouth line in Taranaki, New Zealand. Opened in 1880, it served the surrounding dairy district and the nearby settlement of Ngaere.[1] The station played a small but enduring role in both local freight traffic and early passenger traffic, particularly as the gateway to the renowned Ngaere Gardens. It closed to goods traffic in 1964 and to passenger services in 1966.[2]
Facilities
Construction of the railway south of Stratford railway station began even before Stratford station opened in 1879. The railway and station complex at Ngaire was completed and opened to the public on 27 September 1880.[3][4] The station's role as the terminus did not last long, with the railway opening to Eltham station on 7 February 1881 and officially opening right through to Hāwera on the 20 October 1881.[2][5]
The station was a modest but well-equipped Vogel-era station. It consisted of:
- A standard class 5 station building, platform & men's urinal building (Mountain Road side of tracks)
- A 30 ft x 30 ft Goods shed & loading bank
- Cart approach to the platform
There were also 3 loops off the main line (holding 28, 22 and 14 wagons respectively), a 5 wagon backshunt and approval for a butter loading bank.[2]
In 1893, there was consideration given to relocating the station building to Waitara to replace their station that had burnt down.[6] This did not proceed, and the building remained until 1957 when tenders were called for the building's removal. It was replaced with a small shelter-shed.[2]
Services
Passenger Services
Upon the station's opening in 1880, the morning passenger service from New Plymouth was met by a coach, which transported passengers to Waitotara station, where the train from Wanganui would meet them. In the afternoon, the situation reversed, with the train for New Plymouth departing at 5:20 pm and arriving in New Plymouth at 7:51 pm.[7] The coach connection wasn't guaranteed, though, and the roads south of Ngaere were often boggy and impassable to wheeled traffic.[8] The train north was also often delayed by late-running services running south, much to the annoyance of passengers.[9] Some coach connections continued at Ngaere even after the line to Eltham opened, continuing until the terminus moved to Hawera.[10]
Services at Ngaere were mostly mixed services from the time the station opened. The New Plymouth Express did not stop at the station. However, the 1926 Taranaki Flyer passenger train service, which was more focused on local traffic, did stop at Ngaere.[11]
From the 1910s to the 1930s, holiday trains would run bringing people to Ngaere Gardens, located near the station. The gardens, known for their exotic trees, manicured lawns, and boating facilities, would receive trains from Stratford, Hāwera and New Plymouth, leading to a boost in passenger numbers at the station.[12][13][14]
Freight Services
Ngaere handled a variety of agricultural and industrial freight, and at various times had private sidings for the New Plymouth Sash & Door Company, Duncan Brothers, A. Brown & Co. and James Robson, who held a siding licence from 1884 onward. Robson's siding was modified several times and even became the site of a reported railway wagon fire in 1897.[2]
In 1914, the nearby Ngaere Dairy Factory opened and also sent products (including their "Triumph" brand cheese) from the station.