Huntly railway station, New Zealand

Huntly Railway Station
Huntly station, footbridge and road/rail bridge in 1949. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Location	Huntly New Zealand
Coordinates	37°33′36″S 175°09′36″E / 37.56000°S 175.16000°E / -37.56000; 175.16000Coordinates: 37°33′36″S 175°09′36″E / 37.56000°S 175.16000°E / -37.56000; 175.16000
Owned by	KiwiRail Network
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Tracks	double track from 4 December 1938 to south from 27 August 1939 to north
History
Opened	13 August 1877
Closed	10 April 2005
Rebuilt	1939
Previous names	Ruawaro, Huntley

Huntly Railway Station was on the North Island Main Trunk line and the Awaroa Branch in the town of Huntly in the Waikato District of New Zealand, 65 mi (105 km) south of Auckland.

The station opened on 13 August 1877, originally as Huntley Lodge or Ruawaro c1878, and Huntley from 1879 up to 1882, though all 3 names had been used locally since at least 1877. On 21 May 1972 the station was closed.

The station was enlarged in 1893. It had a Class 4 station building, described, in 1902, as built of wood and iron, with, "a large waiting room, ladies' waiting room, a lamp and luggage room, and the post and telegraph office. There is also a goods shed, and an engine and coaling shed for the engine. About ten trains daily pass through the station, and the staff consists of five hands, besides the stationmaster."

Traffic grew steadily (see graph and table below) so, in March 1920, the Town Board set out the need for a larger station. Requests were dismissed until, on 2 July 1936, the First Labour Government's new Minister of Railways said that provided the Government was re elected, a new station building would be provided.

By 1925 there were 13 staff and 3 locomotives at Huntly engine shed.

The new station opened on 28 May 1939, with Stationmaster, waiting, porters and parcels rooms. A 55 lever electric frame operated the newly doubled lines and extended yard. The old station was demolished to allow a platform extension.

Freight was also growing. In 1919 the Chief Traffic Manager reported that there was insufficient room and by 1924 the growth of coal mining had increased business a further 25%. A plan was made to enlarge the yard and move it south of the Awaroa Branch.

In 1993 Huntly Lions Club repainted the station and the 1939 footbridge at the north end of the platform was moved to Helensville, though it couldn't be used, as too few parts survived for it to be safe. It had been raised to allow the SH1 bypass to be built in 1978 on the site of 2 shunting lines. Access was then only from Rayners Rd.