Waiuku and Mission Bush Branches
Encyclopedia
The Waiuku and Mission Bush Branches are two branches on the New Zealand railway network
which are closely linked. The Mission Bush Branch connects the North Island Main Trunk railway to the Mission Bush Steel Mill
.
, the local MP for Waiuku, as Prime Minister
. The first sod was turned in February 1914, in a ceremony at Waiuku. Progress was slow, and the branch did not open until May 1922. The line was not very profitable, and passenger services were withdrawn on 17 July 1948, being replaced by buses.
Traffic continued to decline, until the line was closed on 31 December 1967 to Waiuku
. However, the construction of a steel mill at Mission Bush proved to be the line's savior. A new 5.5 km (3.4 mi) spur line was built to Mission Bush to serve the Steel Mill. The spur line was opened on 7 October 1968.
The remaining section from Glenbrook to Waiuku was in the process of being lifted until it was taken over by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
. The line has been extended into Waiuku following the old branch as far as the last curve where it deviates. The line presently terminates at Victoria Avenue in Waiuku, a short walk from the centre of the town, with plans the eventually terminate the line at the Tamakai reserve, next to the old wharf.
The extension to Victoria Ave was completed by Easter of 2010 with the first passenger carrying train running on the line on 3 April 2010, hauled by JA 1250
. The extension was officially opened to the public on Labour Weekend (23 October 2010) by Kevin Lawrence, former Waiuku Borough Mayor, and Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland.
trains, and outbound trains carry export steel
to the Port of Tauranga
.
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
which are closely linked. The Mission Bush Branch connects the North Island Main Trunk railway to the Mission Bush Steel Mill
New Zealand Steel
New Zealand Steel is a large steel mill located at Glenbrook, New Zealand. It uses a unique method of producing steel from ironsand, abundant on the west coast of the North Island...
.
History
Proposed as early as 1880, the branch line to Waiuku was finally authorised in 1912, following the election of William MasseyWilliam Massey
William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...
, the local MP for Waiuku, as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
. The first sod was turned in February 1914, in a ceremony at Waiuku. Progress was slow, and the branch did not open until May 1922. The line was not very profitable, and passenger services were withdrawn on 17 July 1948, being replaced by buses.
Traffic continued to decline, until the line was closed on 31 December 1967 to Waiuku
Waiuku
Waiuku is a country town in the Franklin District, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Waiuku River, which is an estuarial arm of the Manukau Harbour...
. However, the construction of a steel mill at Mission Bush proved to be the line's savior. A new 5.5 km (3.4 mi) spur line was built to Mission Bush to serve the Steel Mill. The spur line was opened on 7 October 1968.
The remaining section from Glenbrook to Waiuku was in the process of being lifted until it was taken over by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
. The line has been extended into Waiuku following the old branch as far as the last curve where it deviates. The line presently terminates at Victoria Avenue in Waiuku, a short walk from the centre of the town, with plans the eventually terminate the line at the Tamakai reserve, next to the old wharf.
The extension to Victoria Ave was completed by Easter of 2010 with the first passenger carrying train running on the line on 3 April 2010, hauled by JA 1250
NZR JA class
The NZR JA class were a type of 4-8-2 steam locomotive used on the New Zealand railway network. The class was built in two batches, with the second batch possessing some differences from the first...
. The extension was officially opened to the public on Labour Weekend (23 October 2010) by Kevin Lawrence, former Waiuku Borough Mayor, and Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland.
Services
Services currently consist of three trains per day. Inbound trains include bulk lime and coalCoal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
trains, and outbound trains carry export steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
to the Port of Tauranga
Port of Tauranga
Port of Tauranga is the port of Tauranga, New Zealand, the largest port in the country in terms of total cargo volume, and the second largest in terms of container throughput. with Port of Tauranga Ltd being the company operating it...
.