Otago Central Railway

The Otago Central Railway, often mistakenly called Central Otago Railway, was a railway line on the South Island of New Zealand, which was to connect the Otago region with Dunedin and the harbor of Port Chalmers with the Pacific Ocean.

Geography

The route ran from Wingatui at Mosgiel in a northwesterly direction over Middlemarch and Hyde until after Waipiata the Taieri River along, crossed over Ranfurly until after Wedderburn the Maniototo Plain to the northern foothills of the Rough Ridge with 618 meters of altitude to reach its highest point on the track. From there, the line made ​​a swing to the west, and then further be heading in a southwesterly direction along the Ida Burn and the River Manuherikia about Omakau on Alexandra. The last section was for another swing again in a northwesterly direction over Clyde, through the Cromwell Gorge on the Clutha River to the terminus Cromwell.

History

Following the decision of the Finance Minister Julius Vogel in 1870 to accelerate the development of infrastructure and thus the construction of railways in New Zealand, it came in the early 1880s in the Otago Provincial Council ( Provincial ) to a fruitless discussion about the appropriate route through Otago. Seven routes were available, the respective risks of each route seemed so great to be, so that you can finally declared in 1876, the project ended. A year later, the project reached the Taieri County Council with the support of influential citizens of Dunedin again and chose the route through the valley of the Taieri River. Engine of this project was now the city of Dunedin, in which it was feared to be suspended from the general development of rail transport.

Construction of the line

In June 1879 started the construction of the first track section through the eastern part of the Taieri Plains, although the former districts Oamaru, South Otago and Southland had not given their consent. At the start of construction, it was believed to be able to realize the railway line up to 1884 up to Wanaka. In the following 42 years of track construction was reached Cromwell and stopped the further development for economic reasons.

The construction of the first section began in Wingatui, at the junction of the Main South Line, 13 km from Dunedin and should be done to Middlemarch. The first major challenge was with the construction of viaducts Taioma today as Wingatui Viaduct known. The design proved to be more difficult than anticipated and delayed the entire development by years. The steel structure of the bridge was completed in 1887. 1891, 64 km route construction and 12 years after construction began, was the first section, not inaugurated without public criticism about the slow progress of removal.

Over the next 30 years, until the final Baustop gradually realized more sections. Anywhere in Otago, where the railway line managed access to the inexpensive mass transportation, prosperous trade, the cities were expanded and the travel created new markets and needs. Otago was connected via the Otago Central Railway to Dunedin, the capital of Otago, on the Main South Line, with New Zealand and via the port of Port Chalmers, with the rest of the world and thus experienced an economic boom. Almost but Clyde would have been the last station of the line. The New Zealand Government was not prepared to take on the ever-increasing investment costs of the roadway support for only 2,700 inhabitants. Under pressure from settlers, the Cromwell region, the government allowed the construction of the definitely last route section in 1917 to start ..

Sections

Opening of the subsections:

Partial closure

The first partial closure of the route was made in 1980 to the last section of Clyde to Cromwell. The construction of the Clyde Dam and Lake Dunstan was so dammed the rail link in the way. Until 1989, the section was, however, still used for transport of materials for the construction of dams.

In December 1989 it was announced by the Minister of Railways Richard William Prebble, that the operation of the Otago Central Railway will be discontinued on April 30, 1990.

The city of Dunedin bought the route of Wingatui from Middlemarch by the New Zealand Government to carry it forward privately. By public commitment needed for the financing of the project were $ 1.2 million NZ applied. The city established in 1995 with the Otago Excursion Train Trust together the operating company Taieri Gorge Limited and built the Railway line to the longest private railway museum in New Zealand and one of the region tourist attractions.

The route from Middlemarch to Clyde was dismantled.

Current usage

The section of Wingatui after Middlemarch by the Taieri Gorge is now operated under the name of Taieri Gorge Railway and, with his daily rides an integral part of the city of Dunedin tourism program dar. The museum train starts from Dunedin Railway Station and travels alternately until after Pukerangi or Middlemarch.

The rest of the former route to Clyde since 2000, used as Otago Central Rail Trail, which was developed as a hiking and biking trail. On the 150 kilometers of the trail follows the course of the former railway line, on the 68 bridges and three tunnels, including the lie Pries Creek Tunnel and the Pool Burn George tunnel. The track is closed to motor vehicles and provided with numerous signs, which, as the bike path itself, are maintained by the Department of Conservation.

Swell

All sources of information and links in English

• Geoffrey B. Churchman, Tony Hurst, The Railways of New Zealand - A Journey through History, Harper Collins Publishers, 1990, Second Edition, Transform Press, Wellington, 2001 ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
• Otago Provice or Provincial District - An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966 Online, edited by AH McLintock.