Waiau Branch

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Waiau Branch
Overview
Status	Partly Closed
Owner	Railways Department
Locale	Canterbury, New Zealand
Termini	Waipara Waiau
Stations	10
Service
Type	Heavy Rail
System	New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR)
Operator(s)	Railways Department
History
Opened	1882–1919 (1882–1919)
Closed	1978 (1978)
Technical
Line length	66.55 km
Number of tracks	Single
Character	Rural
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map Legend Main North Line 0.00 Waipara 14.67 Waikari 21.43 Hawarden 26.75 Medbury 34.70 Balmoral 40.98 Pahau 45.95 Culverden 54.34 Archray 57.32 Rotherham 66.55 Waiau km This diagram: view talk edit

Map

The Waiau Branch was a branch line railway in the northern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. Known as the Great Northern Railway for its first few decades of life, the Waiau Branch was seen as part of a main line north but was ultimately superseded by a coastal route. Opened in stages from 1882 to 1919, the line closed in 1978 but a portion has been retained as the Weka Pass Railway.