Kinleith Branch
Encyclopedia
The Kinleith Branch railway line is located in the Waikato
region of New Zealand
. The line was constructed by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company, Taupo Totara Timber Company and rebuilt by the Public Works Department primarily to serve the Kinleith Mill
in 1952. It is 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) in length.
line to Thames was opened to Morrinsville on 1 October 1884. Taking advantage of enabling legistlation, the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company originally built the line from Waharoa
as part of its planned route to Rotorua
as far as Lichfield. This section opened in 1886. However, NZGR took over the Company on 8 March 1886, instead building the Rotorua Branch
railway line from Putaruru
. The 8 km (5 mi) section between Putaruru and Lichfield was closed by NZR in 1897 as it served no purpose. The Taupo Totara Timber Company (TTT Company) then used the disused railway formation from Putaruru for its lightly constructed line to Mokai, near Lake Taupo
.
Following the exhaustion of native timber in the region, the TTT Company line closed on 26 October 1944. However the Government saw that the line had greater potential and in September 1946 acquired the 29 km (18 mi) section between Putaruru and Kinleith. This line formed part of a proposed railway line to Taupo
. The section of line reopened on 9 June 1947 under the control of the Public Works Department, using geared steam locomotives purchased from the TTT Co. The Public Works Department eventually rebuilt the line with heavier rail, wider curves and slighter grades, reaching Tokoroa
in 1949 and Kinleith in 1952.
The branch sees six trains in and out of Kinleith each weekday.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region of New Zealand
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...
. The line was constructed by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company, Taupo Totara Timber Company and rebuilt by the Public Works Department primarily to serve the Kinleith Mill
Kinleith Mill
The Kinleith Mill is a Carter Holt Harvey pulp and paper plant located at Kinleith, Tokoroa, New Zealand. The mill is the largest of four pulp and paper mills operated by Carter Holt Harvey...
in 1952. It is 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) in length.
History
The New Zealand Government RailwaysNew Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
line to Thames was opened to Morrinsville on 1 October 1884. Taking advantage of enabling legistlation, the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company originally built the line from Waharoa
Waharoa
Waharoa is a rural community in New Zealand.Waharoa is the railway junction of the Kinleith Branch railway with the East Coast Main Trunk Railway.State Highway 27 runs through the town.-Schools:...
as part of its planned route to Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
as far as Lichfield. This section opened in 1886. However, NZGR took over the Company on 8 March 1886, instead building the Rotorua Branch
Rotorua Branch
The Rotorua Branch is a railway line from Putaruru to Rotorua, in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Construction of the line was commenced by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company and finished by the Public Works Department...
railway line from Putaruru
Putaruru
Putaruru is a small town in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is on the Oraka River 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton....
. The 8 km (5 mi) section between Putaruru and Lichfield was closed by NZR in 1897 as it served no purpose. The Taupo Totara Timber Company (TTT Company) then used the disused railway formation from Putaruru for its lightly constructed line to Mokai, near Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
.
Following the exhaustion of native timber in the region, the TTT Company line closed on 26 October 1944. However the Government saw that the line had greater potential and in September 1946 acquired the 29 km (18 mi) section between Putaruru and Kinleith. This line formed part of a proposed railway line to Taupo
Taupo railway proposals
There have been a number of proposals to build a Taupo Line as a branch railway linking the township of Taupo in the central North Island of New Zealand to New Zealand's rail network...
. The section of line reopened on 9 June 1947 under the control of the Public Works Department, using geared steam locomotives purchased from the TTT Co. The Public Works Department eventually rebuilt the line with heavier rail, wider curves and slighter grades, reaching Tokoroa
Tokoroa
Tokoroa is the third-largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and largest settlement in the South Waikato district. Located 30 km southwest of Rotorua, close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges, it is mid-way between Taupo and Hamilton on State Highway One...
in 1949 and Kinleith in 1952.
Services
Since the withdrawal of the Geyserland Express to Rotorua in 2001, all services on the line are freights. The line from Putaruru - Kinleith Mill has only ever seen freight trains since being rebuilt in 1952.The branch sees six trains in and out of Kinleith each weekday.