Porewa railway station plan 1915 showing the goods shed location
The line was inspected in 1884.[6] The official opening of the 15 mi 57 ch (25.3 km) Marton to Hunterville section was on Saturday 2 June 1888, when the station was served by two trains a week.[7] A Certificate of Inspection for the line was issued on Wednesday, 6 June 1888.[7] By 1894 the branch had two trains a day.[8]
Gifford & O'Connor built the station in 1887, its final certificate being given on 6 January 1888. By 1896 Porewa had a shelter shed, platform, cart approach, loading bank, urinals and a passing loop for 27 wagons, extended to 76 by 1980. Sheep yards were added by 1898 and a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed by 1904, though there is a note about J W Marshall erecting a goods shed in 1888.[3] Cattle yards were added in 1888. After flooding, it was recommended in 1897 that the ganger's house be moved to higher ground.[3] In 1978 the railway housing was given up.[9] A tablet porter started in 1912,[10] who could help with goods traffic.[11] The sidings were improved in 1914.[3] Electric lighting came in 1939.[12] In 1980 only a loading bank was noted. On Sunday, 25 April 1982 Porewa closed to all traffic.[3]
New passing loop
From 14 December 1983 a new crossing loop replaced those at Rata and Porewa,[4] 1.89 km (1.17 mi) to the east of Porewa.[1] Porewa is the official name,[13] for the new crossing loop.[14] The correct name for the nearby Porewa Stream is Pourewa.[15] There is a shelter at the new loop.[16] The realignment of State Highway 1 alongside the railway occurred between the map editions of 1986 and 2009.[17]
References
^ abNew Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
^Pierre, Bill (1981). North Island Main Trunk. Wellington: A.H&A.W Reed. pp. 289–290. ISBN0589013165.
^ abcde"Stations"(PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
