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Taumarunui railway station

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Taumarunui railway station is the main railway station in Taumarunui, New Zealand, serving the Northern Explorer service between Auckland and Wellington.[1] Historically, it was an important intermediate stop with a refreshment room on the North Island Main Trunk line; the subject of the ballad "Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line" by Peter Cape.

Taumarunui railway station
1916 view of station and yards
General information
LocationNew Zealand
Coordinates38°52′58″S 175°15′53″E / 38.8828°S 175.2648°E / -38.8828; 175.2648
Elevation171 m (561 ft)
Owned byKiwiRail
Line(s)North Island Main Trunk
DistanceWellington 397.75 km (247.15 mi)
Platforms1
Construction
Platform levels1
History
Opened1 December 1903 (1903-12-01)
Rebuilt4 December 2022 (2022-12-04)
Electrified25 kV 50 Hz AC June 1988
Services
Preceding station Great Journeys New Zealand Following station
Otorohanga
towards Auckland Strand
 Northern Explorer National Park
towards Wellington
Other services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Taringamotu
Line open, station closed
4.74 km (2.95 mi) 		  North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail 		  Matapuna
Line open, station closed
2.95 km (1.83 mi)

History

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The NIMT was opened to through Auckland to Wellington trains from 9 November 1908, with the first NIMT express trains from 14 February 1909. Trains also ran to Stratford from 1933.[2]

The building opened on 1 December 1903, including cattle-yard, engine-shed, and railway workers' cottages,[3]

In December 1900, the telephone line was extended to Taumarunui. Goods ran between Ongarue and Taumarunui from 2 February 1903, with the line opening on Friday 29 May 1903 and, on Tuesday 1 December 1903, the 28 mi 24 ch (45.5 km) line between Poro-O-Tarao and Taumarunui was transferred from the Public Works Department to New Zealand Railways.[4]

Extension southward began with goods to Matapuna from 22 June 1903.[5] The prime minister, Sir Joseph Ward, addressed a crowd of several hundred at Taumarunui on Saturday 8 August 1908, when the first Wellington to Auckland train paused at the station.[6] When regular through trains started on Monday 9 November 1908, southbound passengers stayed overnight at Taumarunui.[7] By 11 January 1909 the General Manager gave permission for passengers to sleep on the trains, owing to lack of accommodation at Taumarunui and Ohakune (for northbound passengers). As well as complaints about the quality and quantity of rooms, there was also praise for Taumarunui boarding houses and hotels.[8] Through expresses started to call during the night at Taumarunui from 14 February 1909, with only 5 minutes at the station.[9]

Refreshment rooms opened on 1 November 1909 and closed on 21 February 1975. In 1920 accommodation was provided for refreshment staff and in 1940 a hostel for female refreshment room staff was added.[4]

The platform was extended in 1905 and alterations made to the stationmaster's house in 1908. By 1909, the station had a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, a loading bank, sheep yards, a crane, water service, coal accommodation, fixed signals, urinals and a passing loop for 98 wagons. Within 2 years, the goods shed had been doubled in length.[4]

In 1902, a 50 ft (15 m) turntable from Auckland was installed temporarily, replaced by one of 55 ft (17 m) in 1907 and 21.3 m (70 ft) in 1929, costing £3060. In 1903, an engine shed was moved from Poro-O-Tarao to Taumarunui.[4]

 
Over 30 SA and SD coaches remained in the sidings at the end of 2019

A new goods shed was built by Johnson Brothers Ltd for £30,000 in 1966.[4] The original station was replaced by a two-storey building, officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon on 10 July 1977. The new building housed the Taumuranui C.T.C Train Control room until 1994 when train control was moved to Wellington. The new panel that was installed in 1986 controlled from Hamilton to Marton and featured in the 1988 Destinations production by NZR. When the electrification was installed on the N.I.M.T, a new lineside telephone system was installed that connected to the Taumuranui C.T.C room. [10][11] In 2016[12] the sidings to the north of the station were used to stable 110 former Auckland trains, displaced by electrification.[13]

Services

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Night Limited,[14] Scenic Daylight,[15] Silver Star,[16] Silver Fern,[17] Blue Streak, Northerner[18] and Overlander[19] all stopped at the station. On Friday 21 January 1983 the last passenger train ran between New Plymouth and Taumarunui.[4] The station closed on 25 June 2012, when the passenger stop was dropped from the Northern Explorer's schedule, except for pre-booked groups of 10+.[20][21] The stop was reinstated from 4 December 2022.[22]

 
tickets sales 1904–1950 – derived from annual returns to Parliament of "Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended"

As shown in the table and graph, passengers increased rapidly, reaching a peak in 1923.

year tickets season tickets staff source title
1904 2,346 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1904/I/1848 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1904
1905 9,218 2 6 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/3767 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1905
1906 15,244 7 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1906/II/1600 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1906
1907 27,761 7 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1907/I/2542 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1907
1908 30,977 8 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1908/I/2061 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1908
1909 35,130 6 13 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1909/II/1832 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1909
1910 50,505 53 17 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1910/I/2050 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1910
1911 63,358 33 17 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1911/I/2497 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1911
1912 83,286 73 20 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1912/II/2420 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1912
1913 91,612 99 22 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/3693 RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1913
1914 87,922 60 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1914/I/2031 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1914
1915 91,768 77 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1638 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1915
1916 91,564 50 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1053 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1916
1917 91,159 71 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1917/I/1123 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1917
1918 92,502 77 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1159 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1918
1919 95,024 385 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1919/I/1231 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1919
1920 111,112 802 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1920/I/1349 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1920
1921 114,528 1,119 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1921/I-II/1452 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1921
1922 116,770 871 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1922/I/1409 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1922
1923 120,748 610 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1321 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1923
1924 110,813 863 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1924/I/2458 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1924
1925 101,489 548 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1925/I/1804 RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1925
1926 96,509 1,002 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1926/I/1930 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1926
1927 76,769 543 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1927/I/2230 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1927
1928 64,646 527 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2628 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1928
1929 56,849 618 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2090 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1929
1930 49,965 503 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2212 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1930
1931 55,433 527 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1778 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1931
1932 44,602 599 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1934 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1932
1933 59,132 605 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1388 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1933
1934 68,178 781 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2278 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1934
1935 70,631 479 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1326 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1935
1936 71,523 464 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1552 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1936
1937 76,671 547 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1896 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1937
1938 69,608 344 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1652 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1938
1939 67,651 348 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1970 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1939
1940 65,131 419 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1314 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1940
1941 67,871 385 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1203 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1941
1942 75,886 308 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/651 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1942
1943 82,526 415 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/679 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1943
1944 85,289 425 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/895 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1944
1945 81,617 346 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/969 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1945
1946 88,039 384 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1548 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1946
1947 83,898 318 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2495 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1947
1948 70,357 269 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2521 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1948
1949 70,563 244 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2104 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1949
1950 68,741 245 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2366 STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1950
 
Buses stopped outside the station

References

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  1. ^ "Taumarunui back on the Main Trunk Line". NZ Herald. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 2". Patea Mail. 30 August 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1903 Session I — D-01 Page 47". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. ^ "New Zealand Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 June 1903. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Linked Up. Auckland Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 10 August 1908. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Auckland To Wellingon [sic] By Rail. Auckland Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 November 1908. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Accommodation At Taumarunui. Auckland Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 January 1909. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ^ "The Main Trunk. New Zealand Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 February 1909. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. ^ New station for NZR region control operations transfer Railway Transportation May 1974 page 32
  11. ^ Fine new railway station for Taumarunui Rails September 1977 pages 23-25
  12. ^ "Photos - SAs Return to Taumarunui". nzrailphotos.co.nz. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  13. ^ "On the wrong side of Taumarunui, dozens of unwanted trains sit abandoned". Stuff. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Main Trunk Express. Evening Post". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 March 1932. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  15. ^ Parliament, New Zealand (5 August 1960). Parliamentary Debates - Financial Statement - Hon. M. Moohan.
  16. ^ "The New Zealand Gazette" (PDF). 3 December 1973.
  17. ^ "New Zealand Gazette" (PDF). 25 February 1980.
  18. ^ "Gazette" (PDF). 21 January 1976.
  19. ^ "Town in plea for stopover". Stuff. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  20. ^ KiwiRail list of stations
  21. ^ Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012)
  22. ^ Granville, Alan (16 November 2022). "Taumarunui back on track as New Zealand's newest regular rail stop". Stuff. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
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