Talk:Stratford–Okahukura Line

Matiere Junction?
The route map shows a junction at Matiere and seems to also imply it meets with the NIMT there. For sure there is no connection to the NIMT there, but was there anything else as a spur at Matiere? Or perhaps the route map is just wrong and needs to be corrected? David M Rowell (talk) 02:21, 2 December 2017 (UTC)

Juliet Scoble's Rail Heritage Trust publication on Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010 shows Matiere opened on 4/9/1933, closed for passengers on 21/1/1983 and freight on 21/10/1985. From 6/1922 it had a crossing loop. The 1:50,000 map shows that Matiere is several kilometres from the junction at Okahukura, as is correctly shown on the route map, and so too, also, the junction there with the John Endean & Co Tramway. The route map does miss out some of the other stations; Niho Niho was 5km east of Matiere and Tuhua was 6km west. Johnragla (talk) 05:39, 2 December 2017 (UTC)

Hi, many thanks for your lightning fast reply. And I see my error, the NIMT related to the line going north/south from Okahukura. Now if I could only understand how to improve the formatting of the route map and also add the other stations. (Update - I added the stations but I think you got your west and east swapped over) I don't suppose you have an online source for a station list, do you? How about a map showing elevations and grades? I'm also curious to know about where passing loops were or are. I'm adding some information I've found on those, now. David M Rowell (talk) 07:27, 3 December 2017 (UTC)

Apart from the old one inch map, the only map I know is in the railway atlas, but I don't think there's an on-line version of map 11. There's an odd mention of crossing-loops, as in 1939 at Tuhua, Matiere, Ohura, Mangaparo, Tokirima, Heao, Tangarakau, Tahora, and Kohuratahi. The only mention of gradient I know of is a vague one at NZH 1933. Other Papers Past articles adding information are at AS 1922 and NZH 1922. The atlas shows these stations -
 * Stratford
 * Skinner Rd
 * Toko
 * Gordon Rd
 * Douglas
 * Huiroa
 * Kiore
 * Te Wera
 * Ngatimaru
 * Pohokura
 * Whangamomona
 * Kohuratahi
 * Tahora
 * Tangarakau
 * Heao
 * Tokirima
 * Mangaparo
 * Ohura
 * Waitewhena
 * Toi Toi
 * Niho Niho
 * Matiere
 * Tuhua Johnragla (talk) 10:12, 3 December 2017 (UTC)

Hi, John (I'm guessing that's your name) - thanks for this latest rich dump of data. Looking at your Wikipedia profile, you're probably an idea person to ask another question of - the article claims that the line was opened by the then Prime Minister in 1932, Gordon Coates. Except that, as you in particular surely know, Coates wasn't PM then. Do you know if Coates opened it, or the then PM (George Forbes) did instead? Best wishes and thanks for helping make this article more definitive. David M Rowell (talk) 02:38, 4 December 2017 (UTC)

Yes, my user page says who I am. I can understand why editors in repressive regimes might want to be anonymous, but can't see the point of it for people like me.

Auckland News has a photo of the opening group and another 10 photos by searching fpr 'Okahukura 'on that site. I think the opening photo shows Gordon Coates; the NZH article confirms he was Minister of Works when he opened the line. Johnragla (talk) 06:26, 4 December 2017 (UTC)

Hello again, John - I love the articles you find, thank you so much. Note that the line opening photo is for the section only to Matiere in 1922; not for the completed line in 1932. I'm wondering who it was that opened the completed line - Coates, but in his capacity again as Minister of Public Works, or the actual PM at the time, George Forbes. David M Rowell (talk) 09:43, 6 December 2017 (UTC)

Mothballing of the SOL
The SOL is now mothballed after a derailment (and following decisions) - just need a good media release anyone? Yak52fan (talk) 06:12, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Front page of issue 19 of The Express carries the official announcement from KiwiRail in an article titled Repairs postponed on SOL. Don't know if you could call it a "media release" though since technically it is an internal staff newsletter.  – Matthew25187 (talk) 06:32, 10 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Try this article: Line's mothballing sets off alarm bells. – Matthew25187 (talk) 06:35, 10 November 2009 (UTC)

Stations/stops
I have asked the contributor who first created the route map for his source. It would be helpful to know the rationale for which stations were included and which were not when he made the route map.

It might also be helpful to understand when the various stations/stops were in use. My sense is that some of them came and went during the 60 odd years the line was in use.

When we know a bit more, we can add a section to the article on the stations. Hopefully. :) David M Rowell (talk) 02:49, 4 December 2017 (UTC)

Juliet Scoble's work (as above) has the basic information about opening, closing, etc. As well as that, Google searches will find items such as this photo of opening Toko in 1902 and Papers Past searches will come up with items indicating how the railway was used for everything, from funerals to cream. The Parliamentary Papers will have bits about spending and technical details. The Further reading books are probably in some libraries and likely to have a lot more detail. Johnragla (talk) 10:28, 6 December 2017 (UTC)

Tunnels and bridges
Would it be worth creating a table showing opening dates, locations and lengths of viaducts and tunnels? Some of the information is in https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19140702.2.79, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19230307.2.160.5, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19301202.2.112, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19130808.2.60 and https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19321107.2.65.10. Johnragla (talk) 00:22, 14 January 2018 (UTC)

Open section working
In the section "Signalling" the phrase open section working is used but not explained anywhere. Could sombody who knows it give an explanation how the running of trains was controlled on the line? -- Reinhard Dietrich (talk) 08:55, 9 December 2020 (UTC)

Number of bridges
The article currently states that this line has 91 bridges, however if you look on Google street view: https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-38.798898,175.2235465,3a,17.3y,65.48h,90.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgRuYCXksyMvcuOzP6u-Cfg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu The very last bridge before the line joins the North Island Main Trunk line is numbered 95.

StuZealand (talk) 05:13, 31 December 2023 (UTC)