Original station building to stay

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 16, 20 September 1983, Page 3

Original station building to stay

"The recent demolition work that has taken place at the Ohakune Railway Station is as far as it will go" said Mr Rod Davies, district engineer for New Zealand Railways in Wanganui last week. There had been fears J^^png some local people in ^iffakunethat the demolition work might extend to the main building which currently houses the ticket and station master's office and waiting room. But this original structure (builtabout 1 906) is going to remain. together with its verandah and thus preserve Ohakune's historic link w ith the past and its association w ith the construction of the Main Trunk l.ine and the braneh line from the .lunction to Raetihi. This assurance was given bv Mr Davies who said that New Zealand Railways would soon be spending a lot of money on upgrading and refurbishing the existing ^Bblding. both inside and ^mt. in time for the forthcoming 75th iinniversary of the opening of the Main Trunk l.ine in November 1908.

On Sunday 6 November there will be a ceremonial reenactment of the 'driving of the last spike' near Fokaka and Ohakune will be hPsting a reunion of railway men and women who have been associated with the Main Trunk Line. "We wouldn't be spending that sort of money on refurbishing the building in order to pull it down" said Mr Davies. Local people, interested in preserving something of the past. can also be assured that there are no plans to shift the building from its present "site either, said Mr Davies ... there had been rumours that this would happen as a result of track realignment necessitated by electrification. But the present railway track in front of the station platform will remain as it is ... only at the northern end where the line crosses the Ohakune Mountain Road will it be necessary to realign the track and bridge, he said. Of the demolition work that has already been carried out Mr Davies said that this section of the building originally housed the railway

refreshment rooms and then later the train control and signalling room. These functions have been superseded by more modern automated equipment which is now housed in a smaller building across the road from the main station.