Thorndon Railway Station
Encyclopedia
Thorndon Railway Station in Wellington, New Zealand
was opened in 1885 as the southern terminus of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company’s Wellington-Manawatu Line. This line is now part of the Kapiti section of the North Island Main Trunk.
The station had one side platform, and was lit by electricity. It was off Thorndon Quay just north of Davis Street, and once had a tramway stop.
The station was the main terminus for the WMR, so had a goods yard, engine shed, workshop and maintenance facilities. It was built on reclaimed land. The company was allocated 19 of the 30 acres of reclamation, made with spoil from the tunnels.
Passenger trains were run to the Longburn terminus, and also local trains via Johnsonville to Porirua or Paekakariki. By 1908 there were seven local trains each way on weekdays and Saturdays, and one each way on Sunday.
in October 1885 and to the Longburn terminus in November 1886. The WMR had planned to share the two terminal stations at Wellington and Longburn with the New Zealand Railways Department
, but because of government procrastination had to build its own stations. Thorndon station was built in 1883, but was not put into use until 1885 (Churchman).
The Government took over the WMR in December 1908, but retained two adjacent stations in Wellington, Thorndon and Lambton until Jone 1937 when the new Wellington Railway Station
was opened. Thorndon closed on 8 June.
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...
was opened in 1885 as the southern terminus of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company’s Wellington-Manawatu Line. This line is now part of the Kapiti section of the North Island Main Trunk.
The station had one side platform, and was lit by electricity. It was off Thorndon Quay just north of Davis Street, and once had a tramway stop.
The station was the main terminus for the WMR, so had a goods yard, engine shed, workshop and maintenance facilities. It was built on reclaimed land. The company was allocated 19 of the 30 acres of reclamation, made with spoil from the tunnels.
Passenger trains were run to the Longburn terminus, and also local trains via Johnsonville to Porirua or Paekakariki. By 1908 there were seven local trains each way on weekdays and Saturdays, and one each way on Sunday.
History
The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR) was established in 1881 to build the second or West Coast line out of Wellington after the new Government decided to postpone the project. The line was opened to PlimmertonPlimmerton Railway Station
Plimmerton Railway Station is on the North Island Main Trunk Railway in Plimmerton, Porirua, New Zealand, and is part of Wellington's Metlink suburban rail network operated by Tranz Metro...
in October 1885 and to the Longburn terminus in November 1886. The WMR had planned to share the two terminal stations at Wellington and Longburn with the New Zealand Railways Department
New 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...
, but because of government procrastination had to build its own stations. Thorndon station was built in 1883, but was not put into use until 1885 (Churchman).
The Government took over the WMR in December 1908, but retained two adjacent stations in Wellington, Thorndon and Lambton until Jone 1937 when the new Wellington Railway Station
Wellington Railway Station
Wellington Railway Station is the southern terminus of New Zealand's North Island Main Trunk railway, Wairarapa Line and Johnsonville Line. In terms of number of services and in passenger numbers, it is New Zealand's busiest railway station.-Development:...
was opened. Thorndon closed on 8 June.
External links
- Map showing station (1892 Thos Ward Map No 11; low definition version)
- Photo of Thorndon Station in the 1880s
- Photo of Thorndon Station c1932
- Photo of Thorndon Station c1933
- Photo of Thorndon Station c1937