Halcombe railway station | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General information | |||||||||||
Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 40°08′46″S 175°29′41″E / 40.146058°S 175.49484°E | ||||||||||
Elevation | 118 m (387 ft) | ||||||||||
Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
Distance | Wellington 165.73 km (102.98 mi) | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 22 April 1878[1] | ||||||||||
Closed | 27 March 1983[1] | ||||||||||
Electrified | June 1988 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
|
Halcombe railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) in New Zealand, serving the village of Halcombe, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. [2] [3] It opened in 1878 and closed in 1983. Originally it was the main intermediate station on the 85 mi 34 ch (137.5 km) Whanganui to Foxton railway. [4] Only a single track remains through the station site, [5] as the passing loops here and at Kakariki were replaced by the Rangitawa loop, 3.03 km (1.88 mi) to the north, [2] on 14 December 1983. [6]
The station had its first trains when the Feilding – Halcombe Section opened on Monday 22 April 1878. [7] When the Halcombe – Marton Section completed the railway, linking the ports of Foxton and Whanganui, on Monday 20 May 1878, the mayor of Palmerston North declared a public holiday. [8]
William Nicholson's contract for a 5th class station started on 17 January 1877 and was completed on 14 April 1877 [9] for £157.5s. [10]
When it was decided that Halcombe should be the refreshment stop on the line, that original station was moved to Greatford and a much larger, [11] 104 ft (32 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m), [9] station was built [11] by J & C Bull. Their £2,845 9s 6d contract [12] got its final certificate on 23 August 1878 and was completed by 5 August 1879. To make way for expansion, the goods shed and loading bank were moved to a new site in 1881. By 1896 there was a special class station building, [9] including refreshment rooms, a kitchen, 180 ft (55 m) long passenger platform, [11] cart access to the platform, 40 ft (12 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 46 wagons. Two years later there were also sheep yards, a crane and a water service. Water tanks had been proposed in 1878, about 100 feet beyond the platform. [9] In 1910, after the NIMT opened, the need for more office accommodation was noted and a veranda [13] and longer platform were requested, [14] but rejected. [15] There was a Post Office at the station from 1895 to 1914. [9] A veranda was added in 1912 [16] and was still in place in 1941. [17] Gangers houses were built in 1916 and a State house in 1955. [9]
An excursion train was derailed on the points at the station in 1902, [18] with its WD Class loco. [19] [20]
From the start the choice of Halcombe, rather than Marton, for a refreshment stop had been criticised, by both Marton [21] and Palmerston North, [22] as had the route through Halcombe, rather than Sanson. [23] Initially the trains spent over 40 minutes at the refreshment stop, [24] but that was soon roughly halved. [25] The refreshment rooms were leased; for example, in 1883-4 the lease was £20 a year, [5] but only £12 in 1898. [26] In 1878 they were run by the Halcombe Hotel. [27] From Saturday 24 December 1898 they were replaced by rooms at Marton. [9]
The line became part of the NIMT, when it fully opened in 1909, and Halcombe was one of the stopping points for Wellington to New Plymouth expresses in 1910 [28] and in the 1940s. [29] In the 1920s the station was staffed by a grade 7 clerk. [30]
Halcombe had its annual returns of traffic recorded, as did Greatford to the north and Feilding to the south. [31] Passenger numbers grew initially and during the World Wars, before tailing off towards 1950, as shown in the graph and table below.
year | tickets | season tickets | staff | ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1881 | 4870 | 4 | [32] | |
1882 | 10056 | 4 | [33] | |
1883 | 9875 | 4 | [34] | |
1884 | 9606 | 4 | [35] | |
1885 | 6374 | 3 | [36] | |
1886 | 6204 | 3 | [37] | |
1887 | 5527 | 3 | [38] | |
1888 | 5217 | 3 | [39] | |
1889 | 5328 | 1 | 2 | [40] |
1890 | 5564 | 3 | 3 | [41] |
1891 | 5918 | 3 | 3 | [42] |
1892 | 6021 | 7 | 3 | [43] |
1893 | 7017 | 15 | 3 | [44] |
1894 | 7361 | 9 | 3 | [45] |
1895 | 7193 | 3 | 3 | [46] |
1896 | Page 11 missing | |||
1897 | 5343 | 5 | 3 | [47] |
1898 | 5938 | 5 | 3 | [48] |
1899 | 5706 | 6 | 3 | [49] |
1900 | 5862 | 8 | 3 | [50] |
1901 | Pages 30–35 missing | |||
1902 | 7291 | 2 | 3 | [51] |
1903 | 8658 | 5 | 3 | [52] |
1904 | 8790 | 15 | 3 | [53] |
1905 | 8747 | 27 | 3 | [54] |
1906 | 9175 | 13 | 3 | [55] |
1907 | 9897 | 8 | 3 | [56] |
1908 | 9995 | 2 | 3 | [57] |
1909 | 9245 | 9 | 11 | [58] |
1910 | 9608 | 2 | 3 | [59] |
1911 | 8957 | 14 | 3 | [60] |
1912 | 9423 | 29 | 3 | [61] |
1913 | 9666 | 30 | 4 | [62] |
1914 | 9227 | 28 | [63] | |
1915 | 9245 | 40 | [64] | |
1916 | 8671 | 17 | [65] | |
1917 | 8685 | 72 | [66] | |
1918 | 10307 | 130 | [67] | |
1919 | 11461 | 155 | [68] | |
1920 | 11029 | 133 | [69] | |
1921 | 12039 | 90 | [70] | |
1922 | 9539 | 123 | [71] | |
1923 | 8393 | 165 | [72] | |
1924 | 7904 | 100 | [73] | |
1925 | 6371 | 66 | [74] | |
1926 | 6776 | 118 | [75] | |
1927 | 5835 | 84 | [76] | |
1928 | 4986 | 73 | [77] | |
1929 | 4791 | 76 | [78] | |
1930 | 4811 | 108 | [79] | |
1931 | 6319 | 100 | [80] | |
1932 | 6091 | 96 | [81] | |
1933 | 6758 | 50 | [82] | |
1934 | 6599 | 55 | [83] | |
1935 | 7036 | 50 | [84] | |
1936 | 7295 | 58 | [85] | |
1937 | 7633 | 87 | [86] | |
1938 | 7713 | 206 | [87] | |
1939 | 6941 | 193 | [88] | |
1940 | 7113 | 58 | [89] | |
1941 | 8060 | 63 | [90] | |
1942 | 8786 | 69 | [91] | |
1943 | 9649 | 61 | [92] | |
1944 | 9707 | 76 | [93] | |
1945 | 8513 | 87 | [94] | |
1946 | 8269 | 68 | [95] | |
1947 | 7538 | 83 | [96] | |
1948 | 6333 | 90 | [97] | |
1949 | 5749 | 53 | [98] | |
1950 | 5398 | 39 | [99] |
A large engine shed was built as part of the J & C Bull contract. [27] Nathan & Wilkie built an extra engine shed and coal store for £795.10.4 in 1878-79. [9] Initially a winch and chain was used to lift engines. [100] Another shed seems to have been added in 1894. [101]
From Saturday 6 December 1958 Halcombe was closed as an officered station. On Saturday 31 March 1962 the station building burnt down and a small storeroom was used as a temporary station. Removal of the goods shed and stockyards was approved in 1973. [9] Most of the station buildings had gone by 1974, [102] though in 1980 a station building, platform and loading bank remained. On Sunday 27 March 1983 the station closed to all traffic, but a service siding remained. [9]
Halcombe railway station | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General information | |||||||||||
Location | New Zealand | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 40°08′46″S 175°29′41″E / 40.146058°S 175.49484°E | ||||||||||
Elevation | 118 m (387 ft) | ||||||||||
Line(s) | North Island Main Trunk | ||||||||||
Distance | Wellington 165.73 km (102.98 mi) | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
Opened | 22 April 1878[1] | ||||||||||
Closed | 27 March 1983[1] | ||||||||||
Electrified | June 1988 | ||||||||||
Services | |||||||||||
|
Halcombe railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) in New Zealand, serving the village of Halcombe, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. [2] [3] It opened in 1878 and closed in 1983. Originally it was the main intermediate station on the 85 mi 34 ch (137.5 km) Whanganui to Foxton railway. [4] Only a single track remains through the station site, [5] as the passing loops here and at Kakariki were replaced by the Rangitawa loop, 3.03 km (1.88 mi) to the north, [2] on 14 December 1983. [6]
The station had its first trains when the Feilding – Halcombe Section opened on Monday 22 April 1878. [7] When the Halcombe – Marton Section completed the railway, linking the ports of Foxton and Whanganui, on Monday 20 May 1878, the mayor of Palmerston North declared a public holiday. [8]
William Nicholson's contract for a 5th class station started on 17 January 1877 and was completed on 14 April 1877 [9] for £157.5s. [10]
When it was decided that Halcombe should be the refreshment stop on the line, that original station was moved to Greatford and a much larger, [11] 104 ft (32 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m), [9] station was built [11] by J & C Bull. Their £2,845 9s 6d contract [12] got its final certificate on 23 August 1878 and was completed by 5 August 1879. To make way for expansion, the goods shed and loading bank were moved to a new site in 1881. By 1896 there was a special class station building, [9] including refreshment rooms, a kitchen, 180 ft (55 m) long passenger platform, [11] cart access to the platform, 40 ft (12 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 46 wagons. Two years later there were also sheep yards, a crane and a water service. Water tanks had been proposed in 1878, about 100 feet beyond the platform. [9] In 1910, after the NIMT opened, the need for more office accommodation was noted and a veranda [13] and longer platform were requested, [14] but rejected. [15] There was a Post Office at the station from 1895 to 1914. [9] A veranda was added in 1912 [16] and was still in place in 1941. [17] Gangers houses were built in 1916 and a State house in 1955. [9]
An excursion train was derailed on the points at the station in 1902, [18] with its WD Class loco. [19] [20]
From the start the choice of Halcombe, rather than Marton, for a refreshment stop had been criticised, by both Marton [21] and Palmerston North, [22] as had the route through Halcombe, rather than Sanson. [23] Initially the trains spent over 40 minutes at the refreshment stop, [24] but that was soon roughly halved. [25] The refreshment rooms were leased; for example, in 1883-4 the lease was £20 a year, [5] but only £12 in 1898. [26] In 1878 they were run by the Halcombe Hotel. [27] From Saturday 24 December 1898 they were replaced by rooms at Marton. [9]
The line became part of the NIMT, when it fully opened in 1909, and Halcombe was one of the stopping points for Wellington to New Plymouth expresses in 1910 [28] and in the 1940s. [29] In the 1920s the station was staffed by a grade 7 clerk. [30]
Halcombe had its annual returns of traffic recorded, as did Greatford to the north and Feilding to the south. [31] Passenger numbers grew initially and during the World Wars, before tailing off towards 1950, as shown in the graph and table below.
year | tickets | season tickets | staff | ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1881 | 4870 | 4 | [32] | |
1882 | 10056 | 4 | [33] | |
1883 | 9875 | 4 | [34] | |
1884 | 9606 | 4 | [35] | |
1885 | 6374 | 3 | [36] | |
1886 | 6204 | 3 | [37] | |
1887 | 5527 | 3 | [38] | |
1888 | 5217 | 3 | [39] | |
1889 | 5328 | 1 | 2 | [40] |
1890 | 5564 | 3 | 3 | [41] |
1891 | 5918 | 3 | 3 | [42] |
1892 | 6021 | 7 | 3 | [43] |
1893 | 7017 | 15 | 3 | [44] |
1894 | 7361 | 9 | 3 | [45] |
1895 | 7193 | 3 | 3 | [46] |
1896 | Page 11 missing | |||
1897 | 5343 | 5 | 3 | [47] |
1898 | 5938 | 5 | 3 | [48] |
1899 | 5706 | 6 | 3 | [49] |
1900 | 5862 | 8 | 3 | [50] |
1901 | Pages 30–35 missing | |||
1902 | 7291 | 2 | 3 | [51] |
1903 | 8658 | 5 | 3 | [52] |
1904 | 8790 | 15 | 3 | [53] |
1905 | 8747 | 27 | 3 | [54] |
1906 | 9175 | 13 | 3 | [55] |
1907 | 9897 | 8 | 3 | [56] |
1908 | 9995 | 2 | 3 | [57] |
1909 | 9245 | 9 | 11 | [58] |
1910 | 9608 | 2 | 3 | [59] |
1911 | 8957 | 14 | 3 | [60] |
1912 | 9423 | 29 | 3 | [61] |
1913 | 9666 | 30 | 4 | [62] |
1914 | 9227 | 28 | [63] | |
1915 | 9245 | 40 | [64] | |
1916 | 8671 | 17 | [65] | |
1917 | 8685 | 72 | [66] | |
1918 | 10307 | 130 | [67] | |
1919 | 11461 | 155 | [68] | |
1920 | 11029 | 133 | [69] | |
1921 | 12039 | 90 | [70] | |
1922 | 9539 | 123 | [71] | |
1923 | 8393 | 165 | [72] | |
1924 | 7904 | 100 | [73] | |
1925 | 6371 | 66 | [74] | |
1926 | 6776 | 118 | [75] | |
1927 | 5835 | 84 | [76] | |
1928 | 4986 | 73 | [77] | |
1929 | 4791 | 76 | [78] | |
1930 | 4811 | 108 | [79] | |
1931 | 6319 | 100 | [80] | |
1932 | 6091 | 96 | [81] | |
1933 | 6758 | 50 | [82] | |
1934 | 6599 | 55 | [83] | |
1935 | 7036 | 50 | [84] | |
1936 | 7295 | 58 | [85] | |
1937 | 7633 | 87 | [86] | |
1938 | 7713 | 206 | [87] | |
1939 | 6941 | 193 | [88] | |
1940 | 7113 | 58 | [89] | |
1941 | 8060 | 63 | [90] | |
1942 | 8786 | 69 | [91] | |
1943 | 9649 | 61 | [92] | |
1944 | 9707 | 76 | [93] | |
1945 | 8513 | 87 | [94] | |
1946 | 8269 | 68 | [95] | |
1947 | 7538 | 83 | [96] | |
1948 | 6333 | 90 | [97] | |
1949 | 5749 | 53 | [98] | |
1950 | 5398 | 39 | [99] |
A large engine shed was built as part of the J & C Bull contract. [27] Nathan & Wilkie built an extra engine shed and coal store for £795.10.4 in 1878-79. [9] Initially a winch and chain was used to lift engines. [100] Another shed seems to have been added in 1894. [101]
From Saturday 6 December 1958 Halcombe was closed as an officered station. On Saturday 31 March 1962 the station building burnt down and a small storeroom was used as a temporary station. Removal of the goods shed and stockyards was approved in 1973. [9] Most of the station buildings had gone by 1974, [102] though in 1980 a station building, platform and loading bank remained. On Sunday 27 March 1983 the station closed to all traffic, but a service siding remained. [9]