Ngatapa Branch
Encyclopedia
The Ngatapa Branch was a secondary branch line
railway that for a short time formed part of the national rail network
in Poverty Bay
in the North Island
of New Zealand
. The Ngatapa branch diverged from the Moutohora branch
line about 6 km from Gisborne
and ran a further 12.5 km across the coastal flat to a terminus at Ngatapa.
Built to the New Zealand standard gauge the branch was originally authorized as part of the proposed inland route for the Wairoa
to Gisborne section of the Palmerston North – Gisborne Line. However, in 1924, an engineer's report recommended that the then new isolated section between Wairoa
and Waikokopu
in Hawke's Bay
be incorporated as the southernmost portion of a new coastal route from Wairoa to Gisborne. The Public Works Department (PWD) accordingly abandoned the inland Ngatapa route and began work on the coastal route. The Ngatapa branch became a dead end, and it was closed in 1931.
(NZR) until December 1924. Between 1918 and 1920, work started at Wairoa on the section to Frasertown, which was to have been linked through to Ngatapa, and on the Waikura section beyond Ngatapa, but all work was stopped in 1920 after the Waikura section was found to be unstable.
Construction of the line presented few problems as far as Ngatapa. The course of the line beyond this point was a different matter, and would have required heavy earthworks
and extensive tunnel
ing. Beyond Ngatapa, some formation work was undertaken for about 8 km, including the excavation of a short tunnel, but rails were never laid on the section. Today, earthworks such as embankments and cuttings can still be found, but no actual tunnels can be located, possibly due to collapse in the slip prone ground.
(PWD) was operating goods trains on the branch, and continued to do so until responsibility for the line was transferred to the NZR. The line carried only about 12,000 tonnes of freight per annum, almost all road metal. By 1930 a Railways Commission noted that with the abandonment of the originally proposed inland route the need for the line had disappeared, and the twice-daily Monday to Saturday NZR service attracted an average of only 20 passengers a day. The commission recommended the branch should either close or be taken over by its users, the PWD, or the Gisborne City Council. There were no takers, and the line was closed on the 1st of April 1931.
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 that for a short time formed part of the national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
in Poverty Bay
Poverty Bay
Poverty Bay is the largest of several small bays on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island to the north of Hawkes Bay. It stretches for 10 kilometres from Young Nick's Head in the southwest to Tuaheni Point in the northeast. The city of Gisborne is located on the northern shore of the bay...
in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
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...
. The Ngatapa branch diverged from the Moutohora branch
Moutohora Branch
The Moutohora Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealand's national rail network in Poverty Bay in the North island of New Zealand. The branch ran for 78 km approximately North-West from Gisborne into the rugged and steep Raukumara Range to the terminus at Moutohora...
line about 6 km from Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
and ran a further 12.5 km across the coastal flat to a terminus at Ngatapa.
Built to the New Zealand standard gauge the branch was originally authorized as part of the proposed inland route for the Wairoa
Wairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
to Gisborne section of the Palmerston North – Gisborne Line. However, in 1924, an engineer's report recommended that the then new isolated section between Wairoa
Wairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
and Waikokopu
Waikokopu
Waikokopu is a small coastal settlement in northern Hawke Bay, New Zealand, where the Waikokopu stream forms a small tidal estuary between two prominent headlands. ‘Waikokopu’ translates from Māori as 'water' or 'river' of the kokopu' , kokopu being any one of three species of small native...
in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
be incorporated as the southernmost portion of a new coastal route from Wairoa to Gisborne. The Public Works Department (PWD) accordingly abandoned the inland Ngatapa route and began work on the coastal route. The Ngatapa branch became a dead end, and it was closed in 1931.
Construction
Construction started in 1911, and the line was completed to Ngatapa by December 1915, although not formally handed over to the New Zealand Railways DepartmentNew 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) until December 1924. Between 1918 and 1920, work started at Wairoa on the section to Frasertown, which was to have been linked through to Ngatapa, and on the Waikura section beyond Ngatapa, but all work was stopped in 1920 after the Waikura section was found to be unstable.
Construction of the line presented few problems as far as Ngatapa. The course of the line beyond this point was a different matter, and would have required heavy earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
and extensive tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
ing. Beyond Ngatapa, some formation work was undertaken for about 8 km, including the excavation of a short tunnel, but rails were never laid on the section. Today, earthworks such as embankments and cuttings can still be found, but no actual tunnels can be located, possibly due to collapse in the slip prone ground.
Operations and closure
By December 1915 the Public Works DepartmentNew Zealand Ministry of Works
The New Zealand Ministry of Works, formerly the Department of Public Works and sometimes referred to as the Public Works Department or PWD, was founded in 1876 and disestablished and privatised in 1988...
(PWD) was operating goods trains on the branch, and continued to do so until responsibility for the line was transferred to the NZR. The line carried only about 12,000 tonnes of freight per annum, almost all road metal. By 1930 a Railways Commission noted that with the abandonment of the originally proposed inland route the need for the line had disappeared, and the twice-daily Monday to Saturday NZR service attracted an average of only 20 passengers a day. The commission recommended the branch should either close or be taken over by its users, the PWD, or the Gisborne City Council. There were no takers, and the line was closed on the 1st of April 1931.