Conns Creek Branch
Encyclopedia
The Conns Creek Branch was a short branch line
railway in the West Coast
region of New Zealand
's South Island
. It diverged from the Seddonville Branch
in Waimangaroa
and followed the Waimangaroa River
to its terminus at the foot of the Denniston Incline. The line operated from 1877 until 1967 and existed for the express purpose of conveying coal from mine to port.
In 1878, additional coal deposits were found and the Westport Colliery Company was formed to exploit them. Tenders were called to extend the railway by a kilometre and build the Denniston Incline, with tenders closing on 30 April 1878. The railway terminated at a yard by Conns Creek at the foot of the Incline, and both opened together in either late 1878 or early 1879.
. At the start of the 20th century, four trains operated each way daily; these were mixed train
s as provisions were made to convey passengers. These were removed in 1931 and the line became goods only. Numerous mines in the area sent their coal to the branch for transport to Westport, with tonnages peaking in 1910 with 348,000 tonnes carried. However, by 1914, one source of traffic was lost as the Koramui mine's series of inclines had closed.
Although the New Zealand Railways Department
(NZR) operated trains on the Conns Creek Branch, the trackage and mines were for many years privately owned. On 1 April 1948, the State Mines Department took over the mines, and in 1958, the railway passed into NZR possession. However, by this point, traffic was in significant decline and trains no longer ran through to Westport; a shunting locomotive
based in Waimangaroa shuttled wagons up and down the branch, with Seddonville Branch trains conveying them between Waimangaroa and Westport. The Incline closed on 16 August 1967, and with little to justify its continued existence, the Conns Creek Branch subsequently closed in November 1967, with a short portion at the junction retained as a backshunt
for the Waimangaroa yard.
is still visible and a road to the foot of the Denniston Incline follows it for 1.3 km. At the branch's terminus are a couple of coal wagons, a crane, and other relics. From this point, the remains of the Incline extend up to Denniston.
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
railway in the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It diverged from the Seddonville Branch
Seddonville Branch
The Seddonville Branch, now truncated and operating as the Ngakawau Branch, is a branch line railway in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Construction of the line began in 1874 and it reached its final terminus at the Mokihinui Mine just beyond Seddonville in 1895...
in Waimangaroa
Waimangaroa
Waimangaroa is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand.The township lies on the south-west bank of the Waimangaroa River, at the western foot of the Mt William Range. It is 17 kilometres to the north east of Westport and 13 km south-east of Granity. The abandoned coaltown of...
and followed the Waimangaroa River
Waimangaroa River
The Waimangaroa River is located on the West Coast of New Zealand.The river passes through tussock, scrub and forested areas before draining into the Karamea Bight in the Tasman Sea. It passes through the town of Waimangaroa and is crossed by the Ngakawau Branch railway, with the rail bridge...
to its terminus at the foot of the Denniston Incline. The line operated from 1877 until 1967 and existed for the express purpose of conveying coal from mine to port.
Construction
The branch was originally built to serve private coal mining interests, as coal had been discovered in the Papahaua Range in the 1860s. The Seddonville Branch was under construction in the mid-1870s, and the Wellington Coal Mining Company called for tenders for a private line from a junction in Waimangaroa in September 1875. The Seddonville Branch was completed to Waimangaroa on 5 August 1876 and the first 1.5 km of the Conns Creek Branch subsequently opened in 1877. The Wellington Coal Mining Company's mine was unsuccessful, but a series of inclines were built to convey coal from the Koramui mine, at an altitude of 750 m, to the railway on the coastal plain.In 1878, additional coal deposits were found and the Westport Colliery Company was formed to exploit them. Tenders were called to extend the railway by a kilometre and build the Denniston Incline, with tenders closing on 30 April 1878. The railway terminated at a yard by Conns Creek at the foot of the Incline, and both opened together in either late 1878 or early 1879.
Operation
Motive power on the branch was always provided by steam locomotives. Traffic other than coal was insignificant, and trains conveyed the coal to the harbour in WestportWestport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
. At the start of the 20th century, four trains operated each way daily; these were mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s as provisions were made to convey passengers. These were removed in 1931 and the line became goods only. Numerous mines in the area sent their coal to the branch for transport to Westport, with tonnages peaking in 1910 with 348,000 tonnes carried. However, by 1914, one source of traffic was lost as the Koramui mine's series of inclines had closed.
Although the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
(NZR) operated trains on the Conns Creek Branch, the trackage and mines were for many years privately owned. On 1 April 1948, the State Mines Department took over the mines, and in 1958, the railway passed into NZR possession. However, by this point, traffic was in significant decline and trains no longer ran through to Westport; a shunting locomotive
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
based in Waimangaroa shuttled wagons up and down the branch, with Seddonville Branch trains conveying them between Waimangaroa and Westport. The Incline closed on 16 August 1967, and with little to justify its continued existence, the Conns Creek Branch subsequently closed in November 1967, with a short portion at the junction retained as a backshunt
Backshunt
* A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit.There are two main applications of a backshunt....
for the Waimangaroa yard.
The branch today
Although remnants of closed railways deteriorate and disappear over time due to natural and human activity, some remains of the Conns Creek Branch still exist. Some of the old formationTrack bed
A track bed or trackbed is the term used to describe the groundwork onto which a railway track is laid. Trackbeds of disused railways are sometimes used for recreational paths or new light rail links....
is still visible and a road to the foot of the Denniston Incline follows it for 1.3 km. At the branch's terminus are a couple of coal wagons, a crane, and other relics. From this point, the remains of the Incline extend up to Denniston.