Catlins River Branch

Catlins River Branch
Overview
Other name(s)Finegand Branch
OwnerRailways Department
LocaleOtago, New Zealand
Termini
  • Balclutha
  • Tahakopa
Stations18
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
SystemNew Zealand Government Railways (NZGR)
Operator(s)Railways Department
History
Opened4 February 1915 (1915-02-04)
Passenger Services End30 November 1958 (1958-11-30)
Closed beyond Finegand27 February 1971 (1971-02-27)
Technical
Line length68.44 km (42.53 mi)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterRural
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map

km
0.00
Balclutha
3.60
Finegand
4.05
current end of line
6.46
Otanomomo
12.79
Romahapa
19.41
Glenomaru
(replacement)
22.79
Glenomaru
(original)
Hunts Road Tunnel
25.93
Hunts Road
29.23
Tahora/Parae
Owaka River
31.06
Owaka
36.65
Ratanui
Catlins River
40.58
Houipapa
46.21
Tawanui
52.14
Puketiro
56.14
Caberfeidh
Maclennan River
60.75
Maclennan
64.07
Stuarts
Campbell's Siding
68.44
Tahakopa
Map
Map

The Catlins River Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealand's national rail network. It ran through the Catlins region in southwestern Otago and was built in sections between 1879 and 1915. It closed in 1971 except for the first four kilometres, which remain open as the Finegand Branch (formerly named the 'Finegand Industrial Siding').[1] Along the line was the Hunts Road tunnel, the southernmost tunnel in New Zealand.

  1. ^ "Finegand Branch". New Zealand Gazetteer. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 3 July 2022.