Tuesday, August 26, 2014

as far north in NZ as the railway got


An aerial view of Okaihau in the Northland region looking southwest in 1966 with a railway roadbed just visible at the bottom which ends just out of the 80 metre tunnel (a better view of it in the Google streetview) which was built in 1926 in expectation of the line being extended to Kaitaia, a place which is a bit more substantial, although not a lot. However, the tunnel never saw use and this was where the railway ceased. State Highway 1 curves to the right at the bottom.

Today some of the old railway alignment including the tunnel is on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail.

The actual Okaihau station seen at the same time as the photo above, located about 500 metres to the south in Lake Road.  Today all that remains are the platforms.
For lots more on NZ railways, see our books.

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