Te Koura railway station

Te Koura railway station
General information
LocationNew Zealand
Coordinates38°46′11″S 175°14′50″E / 38.7697°S 175.2473°E / -38.7697; 175.2473
Elevation182 m (597 ft)
Line(s)North Island Main Trunk
DistanceWellington 412.94 km (256.59 mi)
History
Opened1 December 1903
Closed10 October 1971
ElectrifiedJune 1988
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Ongarue
Line open, station closed
  North Island Main Trunk
KiwiRail
  Okahukura
Line open, station closed

Te Koura was flag station[1] on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand in the Ōngarue valley.[2] When opened in 1903 it had sidings, a platform and a goods shed,[3] The line was useable from February 1903[4] and goods traffic started on 22 June 1903.[5]

The station served a small settlement, which existed before the railway came[6][7] and where about a mile of riverside terrace was cultivated.[8] In 2013 meshblock 1030000, which includes Te Koura, had a population of 51 in 27 houses.[9] Nearby Te Koura Marae has a memorial to victims of the 1918 flu epidemic.[10]

In 1911 the new line to Stratford was planned to have its junction 1.5 mi (2.4 km) south of Te Koura.[11] The junction opened in 1933 at Okahukura, 4.4 km (2.7 mi) to the south.[12] In 1912 it was referred to as Te Koura Railway.[13]

In 1964 the station had 3 railway houses alongside,[14] but by 1972 only one was left.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1918".
  2. ^ Scoble, Juliet. "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  3. ^ "Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1903". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ "NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 February 1903. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Page 8 Advertisements Column 5 NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 June 1903. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. ^ "IS THE WANGANUI RIVER STRAIGHT? WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 19 April 1890. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ "THE RIVAL ROUTES. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 15 April 1895. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ "MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 December 1900. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  9. ^ "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  10. ^ Godber, Albert Percy; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Monument to flu victims". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Railways Authorization Act 1911" (PDF).
  12. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  13. ^ "TE KOURA RAILWAY. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 February 1912. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Te Koura 30/10/1964 SN1681". retrolens.nz. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Te Koura 25/05/1971 SN3471". retrolens.nz. Retrieved 2 April 2020.