Nelson Section

Nelson Section
Remains of the Kawatiri station, 2007
Overview
StatusClosed
OwnerRailways Department
Locale Tasman District, New Zealand
Termini
  • Port Nelson
  • Glenhope (1912 to 1926, 1931 to 1955)
    Kawatiri (1926 to 1931)
Stations25
Service
TypeNew Zealand Government Railways regional rail
Operator(s)Railways Department
Public Works Department
History
Opened29 January 1876 (Nelson to Foxhill)
17 May 1880 (Nelson to Port)
25 July 1881 (Foxhill to Belgrove)
2 March 1899 (Belgrove to Motupiko)
6 August 1906 (Motupiko to Tadmor)
18 December 1908 (Tadmor to Kiwi)
2 September 1912 (Kiwi to Glenhope)
21 June 1926 (Glenhope to Kawatiri)
17 June 1954 (freight only)
Closed12 July 1931 (Glenhope to Kawatiri)
13 June 1954 (passengers)
3 September 1955 (freight)
Technical
Line length96.64 km (60 mi) (to Glenhope)
103.20 km (64.1 mi) (to Kawatiri)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterRural
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map

Legend
0.00
 Port
Nelson Haven
Dun Mountain Railway
1.61
 Nelson
Hampden St. Crossing
unofficial stopping place
4.67
 Bishopdale
8.67
 Stoke
11.10
 Freezing Works
13.52
 Richmond
15.13
 Appleby
16.74
 Hope
Waimea River
21.24
 Brightwater
23.50
 Spring Grove
27.84
 Wakefield
32.19
 Wai-iti
34.12
 Foxhill
35.63
 Belgrove
900m
 Spooners Tunnel
51.34
 Motupiko
(Kohatu)
56.49
 Mararewa
59.22
 Tapawera
Motueka River
63.73
 Rakau
68.08
 Tadmor
76.28
 Kiwi
81.43
 Tui
85.94
 Kaka
96.64
 Glenhope
Hope River
185m
 Kawatiri Tunnel
Hope River
103.20
 Kawatiri
end of NZR operations
109.50
 Gowanbridge
PWD only
end of completed track
Map
Map

The Nelson Section was an isolated government-owned railway line between Nelson and Glenhope in the Tasman district of New Zealand's South Island. While part of the New Zealand Government Railways, the section was never connected to the national railway network, although there were plans to do so. The line operated for 79 years between 1876 and 1955.[1] Unusually for an isolated line, there were passenger and freight services for most of its existence, with freight outlasting passenger services by just a year.[2]

This line is noteworthy for several reasons, including being the last completely isolated section of the government-owned railway network; gaining a reprieve after being closed for the first time until being closed for a second – and final – time; and, its route was chosen to serve existing communities in Nelson's hinterland rather than being constructed to open up new areas for development or serve specific industries.

  1. ^ Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 172.
  2. ^ Bromby, Robin (December 1972). "Questions still surround decision to close branch". Rails. 2 (5): 3.