Catlins River Branch
| Catlins River Branch | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy Rail |
| System | New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) |
| Status | Closed |
| Locale | Otago, New Zealand |
| Termini | Balclutha Tahakopa |
| Stations | 18 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1915-02-04 |
| Closed | 1971-02-27 (Finegand – Tahakopa) |
| Owner | Railways Department |
| Operator(s) | Railways Department |
| Character | Rural |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 68.44 km |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
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. Along the line was the Hunts Road tunnel, the southernmost tunnel in New Zealand.
The line was built mainly to provide access to timber for logging companies, as access to the thickly wooded Catlins region was very difficult at the time. The first contract for construction was let on 29 April 1879, but it was not until 15 December 1885 that the first 12.79 km to Romahapa from the junction with the Main South Line in Balclutha were opened. The next stage to Glenomaru added approximately ten more kilometres to the line and opened on 7 July 1891. The opening of the following section was delayed by difficulties in boring the Hunts Road tunnel, and it was on 16 December 1895 that the branch was opened to Tahora. The present-day largest town in the district, Owaka, was reached on 22 June 1896, bringing the line to a length of 31.06 kilometres. Three years later, construction of the line recommenced, but the difficult terrain meant that it wasn't until 1 August 1904 that the next 5.5 km to Ratanui opened. Another five kilometres, another five years; Houipapa was reached on 17 December 1909. The line eventually reached its ultimate terminus of Tahakopa on 17 February 1915. There were proposals to extend the line to meet the Tokanui Branch, but these were little more than ploys by ambitious politicians. The rugged landscape proved to be a deterrent to serious extension plans and they were abandoned.
The following stations were on the Catlins River Branch (distance from junction in brackets):
All bush tramways were closed by the time the branch closed. Many were closed by 1942.
...
Wikipedia