Ōwhango railway station

Ōwhango was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line,[1] in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the village of Ōwhango, which lay to the north of the station.[2] It was 5.64 km (3.50 mi) north of Oio and 9.11 km (5.66 mi) south of Kakahi. The Public Works Department transferred the station to NZ Railways on 9 November 1908, though bush had been felled along the railway route in 1904,[3] by March 1905 a station yard was being formed[4] and by August 1905 it was the railhead, with track laid 4 mi (6.4 km) beyond to the south.[5]

Ōwhango railway station
Ōwhango railway station about 1910
LocationNew Zealand
Coordinates39.006577°S 175.376367°E / -39.006577; 175.376367
Elevation457 m (1,499 ft)
Line(s)North Island Main Trunk
DistanceWellington 371.89 km (231.08 mi)
History
Opened1905
Closed2 June 1985
ElectrifiedJune 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Kakahi
Line open, station closed		   North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail		   Oio
Line open, station closed

By 20 March 1908 there was a 225 ft (69 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) passenger platform, a 22 ft (6.7 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) shelter shed, with lobby and store, a tablet office, a loading bank, cattle yards and pens, a 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed with verandah, privies, urinals and 4 water tanks of 2,000 imp gal (9.1 m3) each, with water supplied by a hydraulic ram. A 6th class station, cart approach to the platform and fixed signals were added by 10 November 1908 and a sheep yard in 1909.[4] In 1912 the platform was enlarged.[6] In 1964 the timber platform front was renewed, but on 30 January 1965 the station building burnt down. By 21 July 1980 a building, with a brick veneer and a concrete floor, had replaced it.[4]

Ōwhango in 1958, before the 1908 building was burnt in the 1965 fire

By 20 March 1908 there was a passing loop for 48 wagons. In 1980 it was extended to an 82 wagon capacity.[4] In 1910 a large timber mill and siding were built.[7] Traffic in 1911 averaged 6 wagon loads a day.[8] from 5 nearby sawmills,[9] which cut matai, rimu and kahikatea.[10]

Ōwhango railway station in 1975

Passenger traffic had ceased by 1976.[1] On 2 June 1985 Ōwhango closed to goods too,[4] though the crossing loop remains in use.[11]

References
  1. Scoble, Juliet. "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  2. "Sheet: WN8". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1928. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  3. "MAIN TRUNK LINE. NEW ZEALAND TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 Mar 1904. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  5. "PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 Aug 1905. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  6. "TAUMARUNUI. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 Jun 1912. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  7. "THE MARCH OF SETTLEMENT. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1 Dec 1910. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  8. "ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 Aug 1911. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  9. "ALONG THE MAIN TRUNK. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 Nov 1911. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  10. "ALONG THE MAIN TRUNK. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 May 1912. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  11. "2264 SH 4 Owhango". Google Maps. May 2019. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
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