Whakarongo railway station
Whakarongo in 1950
General information
LocationNew Zealand
Coordinates40°19′27″S 175°40′25″E / 40.324172°S 175.673731°E / -40.324172; 175.673731
Elevation56 m (184 ft)
Line(s)Palmerston North–Gisborne Line
Platforms1
Tracks1
Construction
Platform levels1
ParkingNo
Bicycle facilitiesNo
History
Opened1891
Closed1967

The Whakarongo Railway Station was a passenger rail station on the Palmerston North to Gisborne line, in the suburb of Whakarongo in the north of Palmerston North. The station was situated between the Terrace End Station and Ashhurst Station.

The station opened on 9 March 1891.[1] It closed to passengers in the 1960s and was demolished in 1967[2] likely due to the opening of the new Palmerston North Railway Station. An adjacent goods-yard was uplifted in the 1980s, with closure to all traffic on 30 October 1983.[3] Only a single track through the station site now remains.[4]

History

When, to avoid confusion with other places, the name was changed from Stoney Creek on 11 July 1890, there were variants of the new name. Whakaronga appeared in several parliamentary reports,[5][6] Wahakaronga in one newspaper[7] and Whahakamanga in another.[8]

It had a shelter shed, a passenger platform with a cart approach and a passing loop for 16 wagons. In 1899 it was noted that there were portable hurdles and a gangway for loading stock.[9]

Whakarongo was 107 miles 40 chains 107 mi 40 ch (173.0 km) from Napier and 4 mi 29 ch (7.0 km) from Palmerston North,[9] until the Milson deviation opened on 21 October 1963.[3] It is now 6.07 km (3.77 mi) from Milson Junction,[9] which is 2.48 km (1.54 mi) from the new Palmerston North station. It was 7.31 km (4.54 mi) west of Ashhurst.[10]

A railway deviation, known as the Whakarongo Deviation, between Milson and the station was originally planned in the 1920s. Work was begun but was stopped for World War Two and the track uplifted. This deviation followed along McLeavey Drive, and now borders the Kelvin Grove Cemetery and Linklater reserve.[11] It would have been 2 mi 11 ch (3.4 km) via the Whakarongo deviation.[12] The deviation was estimated to cost £50,000.[13]

The Railways Department built workers' cottages nearby to serve the yard and station.

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Terrace End
Line and station closed		   Palmerston North to Gisborne line
New Zealand Railways Department		   Ashhurst
Line open, station closed

References

  1. ↑ "Opening of the Gorge Line of Railway FEILDING STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 10 March 1891. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Whakarongo Railway Station – Manawatū Heritage". manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012)
  4. ↑ "Stoney Creek Rd". Google Maps. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "PARTICULARS OF LEASES OF RAILWAY PROPERTY". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1892. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "RAILWAYS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, HON. J. G. COATES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1923. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "WOODVILLE EXAMINER". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 January 1891. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "MANAWATU HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 January 1891. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  10. ↑ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  11. ↑ "Call to preserve rail bridge to nowhere". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  12. ↑ "PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. 1939. BY THE Hon. R. SEMPLE, MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1939. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "History of the Scheme. MANAWATU TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 April 1929. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
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