Ohakune Junction, the hub of the North Island Main Trunk

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 533, 26 April 1994, Page 7

Ohakune Junction, the hub of the North Island Main Trunk

Ohakune's rail turntable reopening prompts local rail history

By

Graham

Parker

Throughout the History of Railway development in the Central North Island, Ohakune has been the hub of the North Island Main Trunk Line. Ohakune assumed some importance more than a decade before the coming of Railway builders as a stopover point for travellers coming up the Wanganui River on Hatrick's river steamers as far as Pipiriki; then travelling overland on rough bullock tracks to Ohakune approximately 26 miles (42 kilometres) from Pipiriki. The main coach ran North-East from Ohakune to Waiouru, Taupo, Rotorua and points North. Very soon general stores appeared alongside the Boarding Houses. Government cooperative workers laid out roading, and a decade later when the Railway navvies arrived with Main Trunk

Surveyor Peter Keller they found a considerable community in the area which now supported around 400 people. This included the

Ngati Rangi people of the Maungarongo Marae. Ohakune's railway connection goes back even further with the "father of the Main Trunk" John Rochfort having set up base here to locate the line through the Waimarino and negotiate with the local Maori Tribes Ohakune acquired administrative importance from the relocation of the district office of the Public Works Dept southern section from Taihape. The dis-

trict engineer planned to ship railway construction materials and equipment from the Port of W anganui up river to Pipiriki and transport them to Ohakune over the coach route, then distribute them to railway construction points north and south of Ohakune. Severe weather upset the plan a little but it did increase the importance of Ohakune as a transport node. In the final survey, the Main Trunk Line by-

passed the main township of Ohakune, leaving it two miles (3 kms) a way to the west, which did not please townsfolk. As a result Ohakune East as it was then called became an important sub-centre with a distinctly Railway flavour. The early character of Ohakune East was typical of all the construction towns that sprang up along the route of the North Island Main Trunk. It had a distinctly temporary look about it. Boarding houses for single Railway navvies were erected with canvas roofs, rough wooden sides and corrugated iron chimneys at one end, in amongst tree stumps, boulders and piles of earth. These were typical of the construction era of the late 19th early 20th centuries. Life and work was hhrd in this high altitude isolated area of New Zealand. Typically these people wanted to play hard as well and the male dominated community had its share of fights. Of course the King Country was a 'dry' area at the time and sly grogging abounded. Not surprisingly one of the first permanent buildings was a Billiard Saloon and Barbers shop Ohakune East began to take on a more permanent character with the development of the Railway yards and Station. It was at a key location on the Main Trunk Line. Both to the North and South were the difficult sections of the Trunk, steep ruling grades, sharp curves, high viaducts and bridges, and an abundance of unconsolidated greywacke cuttings and banks prone to slippinginheavyrain. Snow was a common winter hazard. There factors, along with the rudimentary communications in the centre of the Island made is necessary to set up an effective local organisation to deal promptly with a crisis over a section that was so remote Turn.ta Bage 8

Ohakune Junction,

fhe hub of the North Island Main Trunk FROMPAGE7 and liable to slips and subsidences in wet weather, and hold ups from falls of snow. Ohakune therefore became the office of the District Traffic manager for the middle district of the Main Trunk comprising 220 miles (354 kms) from Marton' s northern station limits to Frankton' s southern ones. This it remained for a quarter of a century. The impact of the decision to run the central section of the Trunk from Ohakune was enormous. It meant an influx of a large number,of Railway people from the Traffic Manager, Inspector of Permanent way, foreman of works through to Train Controller, Tonnage Supervisors, Engine Crews, Shed Crews, Guards, Maintenance gangs, communications technicians and

clerical staff. As well as this were the local station staff, Station Master, Porters, Shunters, Signalmen and clerical staff. At it peak of development the Railway Complex probably employed in excess of 100 people. In 1 9 1 7 the Raetihi Branch Line was opened. This was primarily to serve the Native Timber Mills of the Raetihi region and the developing sheep and beef farming in the area. At this point the original township retained the name Ohakune, but its station on the Raetihi Branch was given the name Rochfort while the Main Trunk Station, 'Kune for short, assumed the official name of Ohakune Junction. This it retained until the closure of the branch in 1968. The surrounding settlement became known as 'the Junction' and still is today. The nature of-the Junction settlement changed. It began to lose the frontier look. A large number of Railway houses were . built on the northern side of the Railway yard now known as Railway Row. The houses extended over the western side of the Mangawhero river and up as far as where George Hapi' s house now is on top of the Railway Row - with a gap for the huge water tower. Railway housing continued on the eastern side of Ruapehu Road (and partly down the Dreadnought Rd) to Egmont Street, and on both sides of the eastern end of Egmont Street. All Railway houses have that characteristic style and were prefabricated at a huge Railway mill at Frankton Junction, Hamilton. Careful observation will identify three or four basic styles. Managerial personnel got special homes. The Station Master lived in what is now Rimu Park Lodge, and the Traffic Manager h ved in what is now Paul Beckett' s house. Single men were housed in the ubiquitous "Railway Hut" in a compound to the southeast of the yard between the Raetihi Branch line and the Main Trunk, just below the location of the old overhead bridge. Some huts were also placed on the ridge at the northern entrance to the yard on the Old Station Road side. Many Railway stories have emanated from the escapades of the Railway Hut Dwellers!. The huts were deliberately placed in hidden areas away from the public eye. Single women, in those days, clerical staff or refreshment room staff were housed in a hostel between Rimu St and Thames Street - in far more congenial surroundings. The Junction population became more balanced as many of the new people were family people. This helped soften the frontier town image. The developments mentioned took place in the pre Motor car area 1900 - 1925. The only means of local travel was to walk or ride a horse (or some form of horse drawn tranSport). Acknowledgements: Merrlyn George and Pill Pierre. CONTINUED NEXT WEEK