Tahoraiti railway station
Railway station in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tahoraiti has, since 1939, been the official name of a locality,[1] which has also been known as Tahoraite.[2] It is a sparsely populated area in the Manawatū-Whanganui region, with 354 people (2018 census) scattered over two meshblocks, totalling 56 km2 (22 sq mi).[3] Tahoraiti had a post office from 1907[4] and a school from 1921.[5]
Tahoraiti railway station | |||||||||||
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 Tahoraiti in 1912 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 40.2331°S 176.0584°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 190 m (620 ft) | ||||||||||
| Owned by | KiwiRail | ||||||||||
| Line | Palmerston North–Gisborne Line | ||||||||||
| Distance | Palmerston North 51.58 km (32.05 mi) | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 22 March 1887 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 1 February 1971 | ||||||||||
| Previous names | Tamaki until 8 April 1889 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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History
Tahoraite railway station opened on 22 March 1887, when the 15 mi 10 ch (24.3 km) Tahoraiti (later Tapuata) to Woodville section extended the line from Napier.[6]
The area was part of the Ngāti Raukawa rohe[7] in the Seventy Mile bush.[8] Tamaki Sawmill had been set up by 1884.[9] The equipment at the Gammon & Co sawmill was sold in 1906,[10] though firewood was still being railed out in 1908[11] and H B Timber Co remained until 1910.[12]
The contract for station buildings was signed on 24 December 1886, with additions in 1887. In 1887 E V Dixon asked for a lease of a tea and coffee stall at Tamaki station and in 1888 wanted to put up a refreshment room. By 1896 there was a shelter shed, platform, urinals and a passing loop for 26 wagons, extended to 54 wagons by 1898.[2]
In February 1889 a petition asked for exchange of the names of Tamaki and Tahoraiti stations. From Friday 5 April 1889 Tahoraiti siding became Tamaki Sawmill Company's siding and from 8 April Tamaki station became Tahoraiti.[2]
In 1891 a request to stop expresses was turned down,[13] but from 1895 express trains stopped at the flag station, which still had 2 trains a day.[14] Tablet signalling was installed in 1923,[15]
In 1954 a railcar with 34 passengers caught fire whilst climbing from Oringi to Tahoraiti.[16]
By 1958 the station buildings were used so little it was suggested they be used by the District Engineer as Way & Works Branch Shelter sheds. On 22 March 1970 the station closed, except for wagon loads and on 1 February 1971 it closed to all traffic.[2] Only a single line now passes through the station site.[17]
Bridge 139, over the Otamaraho Stream, about a kilometre south of Tahoraiti, is 27.118 m (88.97 ft) long.[18]