Foxton Branch
Encyclopedia
The Foxton Branch was a railway line in New Zealand
. It began life as a tram
way, evolved into a railway by 1876, and operated until 1959. At Himatangi
there was a junction with the Sanson Tramway, a line operated by the Manawatu County Council that was never upgraded to the status of a railway.
, the settlement of Foxton
was seen in the 1860s as a possible port for the Manawatu region. Roads often became treacherous and impassable in bad weather, and as the Manawatu River was not navigable far inland, a more dependable route than the roads was necessary so that the region could receive imports and export its products, particularly timber. Due to poor financial conditions at the time, a tramway built with wooden rails rather than a railway was proposed in 1865 as a cost-effective mode of transport. Not even this was affordable at the time, and it was not until Julius Vogel
announced his "Great Public Works" policy in 1870 that construction was finally approved.
As planned in 1865, the line was built as a wooden-railed tramway, with construction commencing in 1871. On 20 August 1872, a steam locomotive
constructed by the Dunedin
firm of Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co. was delivered and operated on the completed portion of tramway; this was the first New Zealand-built locomotive to run. The line was completed to Palmerston North
on 25 July 1873, a distance of 40 kilometres, and soon proposals were made to extend it to Wanganui
. However, by 1874, the inadequacies of wooden rails were becoming apparent, and after an attempt at relaying the line with iron rails in February 1875 did not provide the durability required, the decision was made to relay the line with steel rails to railway standards. The land through which the line ran was generally flat, with the Oroua River
the only serious obstacle. It was crossed with a 56-metre long bridge. The line was formally re-opened as a railway on 27 April 1876.
In 1886 the Wellington and Manawatu Railway's (WMR) line was opened from Wellington
to the Foxton line at Longburn
, near Palmerston North. The government's original plan had been to extend the Foxton line down to Wellington, but the private company established to build the line due to the government's inaction elected to follow the most direct route to Palmerston North, thereby bypassing Foxton. At this point, the Foxton line technically became a branch line
, though it remained the terminus of the government railway's main line until 1908, when the WMR was purchased and incorporated in the North Island Main Trunk Railway linking Wellington and Auckland
. The Foxton Branch was a branch in all aspects from this time onwards.
In 1903, a mixed train
ran daily between Foxton and Palmerston North, and it was augmented by a passenger-only service from Palmerston North and return thrice a week. In 1913, the passenger train operated six days a week. However, freight services were in decline: with the acquisition of the WMR in 1908, the Railways Department ceased shipping coal via Foxton. The wharf's condition was deteriorating and by 1916, only one shipping company possessing two steamers
used Foxton, and when the company's main shed burnt down in 1922, it ceased to operate. Local interests continued to try to generate shipping traffic but met with little success and only a small amount of traffic was generated for the railway. In 1942, all shipping via Foxton ceased.
In 1932, passenger services were withdrawn and the locomotive depot closed, with the only trains on the line being a daily goods service from Palmerston North. During World War II
, troop trains ran as the Manawatu Mounted Rifles established a camp on Foxton's racecourse, but after the war traffic continued to decline. Only three trains ran a week in 1952; in comparison, road freight services to the town were thriving. A mere 5,500 tonnes per annum were railed off the branch to other destinations, while 13,000 tonnes of freight came onto the line. The traffic outwards was mostly woolpacks and root crops, while lumber, lime, manure and coal were the primary traffic inwards. Closure was inevitable, and some may see it surprising that the line survived until the end of the 1950s. A farewell passenger excursion ran on 17 July 1959, and the last freight train operated a few days later. Formal closure was on 27 July.
, but road re-alignment and flood control earthworks have destroyed some of the formation. Near Longburn, SH 56 utilises the formation. Rubble from both the railway and old road bridges across the Oroua River can still be seen from the new road bridge. Little of the railway remains in Foxton.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It began life as a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way, evolved into a railway by 1876, and operated until 1959. At Himatangi
Himatangi
Himatangi, formerly Carnarvon, is a small settlement in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 56, 25 kilometres west of Palmerston North, and seven kilometres east of the coastal settlement of Himatangi Beach...
there was a junction with the Sanson Tramway, a line operated by the Manawatu County Council that was never upgraded to the status of a railway.
Construction
At the mouth of the Manawatu RiverManawatu River
The Manawatu River is a major river of the southern North Island of New Zealand.The river has its headwaters to the northwest of Norsewood in the Ruahine Ranges of southern Hawke's Bay. It flows initially eastward before turning south-west near Ormondville, flowing 40 km before turning...
, the settlement of Foxton
Foxton, New Zealand
Foxton is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand. The 2006 census population was 2715.It is located on the lower west coast of the North Island, in the Horowhenua district, 30 kilometres southwest of Palmerston North and 15 kilometres north of Levin. The town is located close to the...
was seen in the 1860s as a possible port for the Manawatu region. Roads often became treacherous and impassable in bad weather, and as the Manawatu River was not navigable far inland, a more dependable route than the roads was necessary so that the region could receive imports and export its products, particularly timber. Due to poor financial conditions at the time, a tramway built with wooden rails rather than a railway was proposed in 1865 as a cost-effective mode of transport. Not even this was affordable at the time, and it was not until Julius Vogel
Julius Vogel
Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...
announced his "Great Public Works" policy in 1870 that construction was finally approved.
As planned in 1865, the line was built as a wooden-railed tramway, with construction commencing in 1871. On 20 August 1872, a steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
constructed by the Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
firm of Messrs R. S. Sparrow and Co. was delivered and operated on the completed portion of tramway; this was the first New Zealand-built locomotive to run. The line was completed to Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
on 25 July 1873, a distance of 40 kilometres, and soon proposals were made to extend it to Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
. However, by 1874, the inadequacies of wooden rails were becoming apparent, and after an attempt at relaying the line with iron rails in February 1875 did not provide the durability required, the decision was made to relay the line with steel rails to railway standards. The land through which the line ran was generally flat, with the Oroua River
Oroua River
The Oroua River is a river of the southwestern North Island of New Zealand. A tributary of the Manawatu River, it flows generally southwestward from its source in the Ruahine Range, joining the Manawatu River between Palmerston North and Shannon....
the only serious obstacle. It was crossed with a 56-metre long bridge. The line was formally re-opened as a railway on 27 April 1876.
In 1886 the Wellington and Manawatu Railway's (WMR) line was opened from Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
to the Foxton line at Longburn
Longburn
Longburn is a rural settlement just outside of Palmerston North in the Manawatu-Wanganui area of New Zealand. Made up of large dairy processing plants Longburn is often mistaken to be a small township and not seen as a large satellite town of Palmerston North...
, near Palmerston North. The government's original plan had been to extend the Foxton line down to Wellington, but the private company established to build the line due to the government's inaction elected to follow the most direct route to Palmerston North, thereby bypassing Foxton. At this point, the Foxton line technically became a branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
, though it remained the terminus of the government railway's main line until 1908, when the WMR was purchased and incorporated in the North Island Main Trunk Railway linking Wellington and Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. The Foxton Branch was a branch in all aspects from this time onwards.
Stations
The following stations were on the Foxton Branch, with the distance from the junction in Longburn in brackets:- Karere (2 km)
- Tiakitahuna (4 km)
- Rangitane (8 km)
- Rangiotu (10 km)
- Bainesse (15 km)
- Himatangi (22 km)
- Motuiti (27 km)
- Foxton (31 km)
Operation
The line was very important for its first 12 years. Northbound freight and passengers from Wellington came up the west coast via ship and transferred to the railway in Foxton, and the town was served by express trains. When the WMR's line opened, traffic to Foxton dropped so markedly that services were slashed to run on alternate days, though daily trains were restored at a later date. Passenger ferries between Wellington and Foxton disappeared overnight. Most freight also used the new line, but the government railways did not wish to utilise a competitor's service and continued to ship railway coal in via Foxton. The flax trade in the region also continued to use Foxton as a harbour and provided traffic for the line.In 1903, a mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
ran daily between Foxton and Palmerston North, and it was augmented by a passenger-only service from Palmerston North and return thrice a week. In 1913, the passenger train operated six days a week. However, freight services were in decline: with the acquisition of the WMR in 1908, the Railways Department ceased shipping coal via Foxton. The wharf's condition was deteriorating and by 1916, only one shipping company possessing two steamers
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
used Foxton, and when the company's main shed burnt down in 1922, it ceased to operate. Local interests continued to try to generate shipping traffic but met with little success and only a small amount of traffic was generated for the railway. In 1942, all shipping via Foxton ceased.
In 1932, passenger services were withdrawn and the locomotive depot closed, with the only trains on the line being a daily goods service from Palmerston North. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, troop trains ran as the Manawatu Mounted Rifles established a camp on Foxton's racecourse, but after the war traffic continued to decline. Only three trains ran a week in 1952; in comparison, road freight services to the town were thriving. A mere 5,500 tonnes per annum were railed off the branch to other destinations, while 13,000 tonnes of freight came onto the line. The traffic outwards was mostly woolpacks and root crops, while lumber, lime, manure and coal were the primary traffic inwards. Closure was inevitable, and some may see it surprising that the line survived until the end of the 1950s. A farewell passenger excursion ran on 17 July 1959, and the last freight train operated a few days later. Formal closure was on 27 July.
The branch today
It is typical for evidence of closed railway lines to be destroyed by both nature and human activity, but some remnants of the Foxton Branch still exist. The line ran for much of its length right beside State Highways 1 and 56New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, but road re-alignment and flood control earthworks have destroyed some of the formation. Near Longburn, SH 56 utilises the formation. Rubble from both the railway and old road bridges across the Oroua River can still be seen from the new road bridge. Little of the railway remains in Foxton.