Mangamahoe Railway Station

Story

Mangamahoe railway station served the small rural community of Mangamahoe in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand’s North Island. It was located on the Wairarapa Line between the stations of Mauriceville (to the south) and Eketahuna (to the north) with vehicular access from Station Road. It is the northernmost station site on the Wairarapa Line within the jurisdiction of the Greater Wellington Regional Council before the line passes into territory governed by Horizons Regional Council.The station opened to all traffic in 1887 and was in service for years, closing to general freight traffic in 1966 and three years later to passengers also.HistoryFacilitiesFeatures typical of a small rural railway station were present at Mangamahoe from its early years as official records mention a wooden-fronted passenger platform, goods shed and station building, wooden-fronted loading bank, staff telephone, and Ways and Works Branch shed . A tablet porter’s room was located in the station building and water closets were provided for the convenience of staff and passengers.The yard contained, in addition to the main line, crossing loops and a stockyards siding. A request was made in 1958 for the crossing loops to be lifted as they had become surplus to requirements with approval being granted the following year. The Inspector of the Permanent Way advised in June 1959 that trap points had been installed at Mangamahoe and the loop roads closed off. Lifting of the loops was deferred until such time as the track gangs became available and it was intended to move the crossing loop to replace the goods shed road which had been laid with light rails.