OLD T.T. LINE TO MOKAI FROM PUTARURU

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 29 July 1955, Page 8

OLD T.T. LINE TO MOKAI FROM PUTARURU

Publication, on the front page of the Taupo Times of July 15, of a photograph of one of the well-known locomotiyes used for many years to haul the Taupo Totara Timber Company's log and freight trains between Mokai and Putaruru, has stimulated memories of the not so distant past. Referring to the picture, the Putaruru Press gave further details of the only railway built in the Taupo Country, and these will be of interest to older resiilents of Taupo to whorn "the T.T. line" represented a vital freight link with the outer world. ' Constructlon of the Taupo Totara Timber Company's railway line from Putaruru to Mokai was a vital step in the establishing of Putaruru. When the Rotorua line went through, a hotel, store and railway refreshment rooms were built here. Being a junction, Putaruru was decided upon as headquarters of the Taupo Totara Oompany for the area and' increasing settlement began. Roads being non-existent, the way to bring logs 50 miles from the Mokai bush was to construct a railway.^ It was arranged to build a wooden tramway, but on this proving unsuitable steel lines were put down. • First 19 miles from Putaruru rau over fairly easy country but the remainder of the route was through liilly and difficult country. The line went with easy grades to Kopokorahi, not quite halfway to Mokai, and' then climbed over the Wawa saddle to descend to the Waikato River at Ongaroto. From there it followed up the Waipapa stream to Mokai at a level of 1800 feet. Grades and curves as far as Kopokorahi could be negotiated by a rod engine, and an articulated Mallet engine was used successfully for this section. The rest of the line to Mokai could be worked only by geared locomotives. Besides the Mallet stationed at Putaruru, fouf geared engines- were kept at Mokai, two being Heislers of 40 tons for tlie -rnain line, and the otlier two a Heisler of 25 tons and a 25ton Price-for the logging. All Day Trip A trip to Mokai was a wliole day's journey. By road it novv takes about two hours. The company operated tlie line under an Order-in-Oouncil and obtained tlie right to extend the line to Taupo. At the time it seemed probable that the line would be the only outlet for all the timber in the area as pumice roads were almost useless for heavy 'carting. With the improvement of roads and the advent of motor transport, these liopes faded and it was realised that most of the line would be abandoned when the Mokai bushes were cut outThe bridge .ovef the Waikato River was a major engineering feat. At the point of crossing the . Waikato was i unsuitable for piles and it was cross- ' ed in a single span of 230 feet with ; a wooden bowstring girder bridge. It was "said to be the longest span of a wooden girder bridge in the world. There were 150,000 feet of totara used. The bridge functioned successfully for many years but with the passage of heavy loads the joints began to work loose. . At the end, the bridge creaked and worked so ominously that the "loco" driver was forbidden to cross with the load. Ile started the locomotive and let it cross at a slow speed and followed it across. Nothing untoward ever happened. In 1931 a steel .girder bridge was built. The line, which cost £149,000 to construct, was last used by the company in 1946. Up to the ;19-mile peg the line was re-located for the Government railway to Kinleith.