End of an era for Waiouru rail

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 683, 22 April 1997, Page 1

End of an era for Waiouru rail

Taking away the railway branch line into Waiouru Military Camp marks the end of an era which has spanned 56 years. Until recently the siding was used almost daily to deliver coal for the camp boiler-house. However, according to Sergeant-Major Ross Brunton of Property Management, new regulations under the Land Transport and Safety Authority required that the siding undergo a "rail safety audit" and that a "rail operator license" be obtained for its future use. The age and condition of the siding in conjunction with the maintenance history of the shunter meant that considerable costs would be involved in bringing the whole operation up to safety standards, he said. This resulted in the decision to look at alternative methods of delivering coal to the boiler-house with the most viable option being to have the coal trucked directly from Huntly. Removal of the railway lines is also considered to be Turn to Page 2

e End of an era for Waiouru rail

FROM PAGE 1 necessary as ongoing road maintenance was very costly. The lines which cross public roads will be removed before winter and the remainder of the line will be lifted next year. This part of the operation has been watched closely by residents wanting to obtain the railway sleepers. The property management office said they will advise the community through the military system and the Tussock Times when the sleepers will be available for sale. The disposal of the shunter itself will be

through tender and Sgt-Maj Brunton said he has already had two enquiries from vintage railway organisations in Paihia and the Bay of Islands. The final decision will be made by Army General Staff in Wellington. With over half a century of history associated with it, the siding has played a major part in the growth of Waiouru and the Military Camp. According to the New Zealand Railway Observer (Summer 1995-96) it was built in 1941 for the Army Department as part of the construction of the Waiouru Military Camp.

The siding was 1.7 kilometres long and was the highest private siding in New Zealand. The siding was considered unusual in that it was built with both passenger and goods traffic facilities. In its early years trains carrying general goods, ammunition, vehicles, coal and even horses would have been typical. Troop trains were a common feature both

during World War II and until the end of compulsory military training in 1958. It is also recorded as carrying converted North Island Main Trunk ambulance cars into Waiouru during the war years and in 1 957 hosted the Vice Regal train for several days during the Governor General' s visit to this area. Main passenger carriage ended in the early 1970's

with the end of selective military training and the removal of the requirement for government departments to use New Zealand Railways (NZR) for passenger and freight movement. However, the movement of Territorial Force soldiers continued for many years as they were transported to and from Waiouru for their annual camp exercises.