Otorohanga Railway Station

Story

Otorohanga Railway Station has served the town of Otorohanga, on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand since 1887. It was 4.45km south of Kiokio and 9.21km north of Hangatiki, but is now one of only 9 stations on the line served by the Northern Explorer.Trains calling at Otorohanga included The Overlander, Blue Streak, Scenic Daylight, Daylight Limited, Northerner and Night Limited. By 2012 passenger numbers had dropped to an average of two per train, which brought about a brief closure from 24 June. Initially the reinstatement was for summer only from 10 DecemberServicesThe station is managed by Kiwirail who operate the Northern Explorer three times a week in each direction between and Britomart. Hamilton is 48.11km to the north, timetabled in 2015, departure to departure, in 39 minutes, and National Park, 147.58km to the south, in 139 minutes, both southbound.Rangitoto Colliery Co. branchThe 1919 Railways Authorisation Bill included a, "branch line from Otorohanga, along right bank of the Waipa River, to the south boundary of Block VI, Mangaoronga survey district. Length about 7½ miles." The Railway Atlas indicates the line was horse worked, served the Ellis and Burnand Mill, as well as the colliery, and existed by 1921. The 1921 photograph (left) appears to show a horse worked tramway, but only remnants of the line appear in the 1947 photos.