View source for Opua Branch

{{Short description|Railway line in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2015}}
{{Opua Branch}}
{{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line}}
[[File:Opua,_Tarawera_at_wharf.jpg|thumb|Opua, Tarawera at wharf about 1891]]
The '''Opua Branch''' or '''Otiria-Opua Industrial Line''', partially still operational as the '''[[Bay of Islands Vintage Railway]]''', is a former section of the [[North Auckland Line]] in the [[Northland Region]] of [[New Zealand]], between [[Otiria]] and the [[Bay of Islands]] township of [[Opua]].  The first section was constructed as a [[List of New Zealand railway lines#Bush tramways|bush tramway]] in 1867 and converted to a railway in the next decade.  Today the railway is partially used by the [[Bay of Islands Vintage Railway]], which runs tourist services between [[Kawakawa, New Zealand|Kawakawa]] and [[Te Akeake railway station|Te Akeake]]. The line's centrepiece is the section where it runs down along the main street of Kawakawa.

==Construction==

Coal was discovered at [[Kawakawa, New Zealand#History and culture|Kawakawa]] in 1864.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 1864 |title=Weekly epitome of  news. New Zealander |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18640319.2.10 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Rails<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 1867 |title=Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18671113.2.13 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> and wagons from the [[Onehunga Branch#Construction and original services|Auckland & Drury railway]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 1867 |title=Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18671109.2.13 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> were used for a [[Standard-gauge railway|{{Track gauge|1435mm}} gauge]], [[Wagonway|horse-drawn tramway]] from the mine to the Derrick wharf on the [[Kawakawa River]] at [[Taumarere railway station|Taumarere]]. The tramway opened on 26 December 1867<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 1868 |title=The Kawakawa coal mines. New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18680113.2.15 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> and was completed on 16 January 1868,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 1868 |title=The Kawakawa coal mines. New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18680121.2.13 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> after which the mine was transferred to the newly formed Bay of Islands Coal Company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 1868 |title=Bay of Islands Coal Company. Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680410.2.15 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Horses and the wooden tramway line were replaced on 28 January 1871 by the first steam engine to run in the North Island. Puffing Billy,<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2018 |title=Kawakawa celebrates 150 years of steam – and a whole lot more |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/kawakawa-celebrates-150-years-of-steam-and-a-whole-lot-more/GQJHCQX7TINREEHLNZAPPTZZMA/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> a [[Vertical boiler#Railway locomotives|vertical boilered]] ({{Convert|85|psi|abbr=on}} to {{Convert|100|psi|abbr=on}}), 8 ton, {{Convert|12|hp|abbr=on}}, [[0-4-0]] locomotive, built in April 1870 to the order of G.E. Stevenson of [[Liverpool]] for export by [[Chaplin's patent distilling apparatus|Alexander Chaplin and Company]], [[Anderston#Foundation of Anderston|Cranstonhill]] Engine Works, Glasgow, believed to be maker's No. 1182. The two cylinders (6in x 13in) were vertically mounted, ahead of the boiler, and drove a geared (1:2) crank shaft on an axle. The {{Convert|3|ft|1|in|abbr=on}} diameter driving wheels were coupled by circular section side rods. The wheelbase was {{Convert|6|ft|4|in|abbr=on}} and overall length {{Convert|13|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":45">{{Cite web |title=Ohinemuri – Thames Steam Tramway |url=https://www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journals/journal-43-september-1999/thames-steam-tramway |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.ohinemuri.org.nz}}</ref> It had been expected that the engine would be able to haul almost 100 tons,<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 1871 |title=Russell: The Kawakawa coal mine. Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18710526.2.14?end_date=31-12-1871&items_per_page=100&query=kawakawa+locomotive&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev&start_date=01-01-1870 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> but it needed much repair and could only haul 8 tons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 1871 |title=Kawakawa coal mines: Local engineering talent. Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18710128.2.20 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> It was sold to the [[Trams in New Zealand#History|Tararu tramway company]] and altered to their 3&nbsp;ft 6in gauge by Fraser and Tinné, who delivered it to Thames on 2 December 1871.<ref name=":45" /> In 1871 approval was given to extend the tramway from Taumarere to [[Opua railway station|Opua]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 1874 |title=The coal resources of the province. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18741125.2.20 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> In 1874 Bay of Islands Coal Company agreed with Auckland Province that the government would take over the tramway<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 1874 |title=New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18740904.2.10 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> and build the extension.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 1879 |title=Public Works' Statement. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18791210.2.24 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The line was closed from 2 to 11 December 1876 to allow for it to be converted to [[3 ft 6 in gauge railways|3 ft 6 in gauge]].,<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 1876 |title=New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18761127.2.2.5 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> the newly established national gauge. Work on the Kawakawa River viaduct and first mile of the extension to Opua was completed in April 1881,<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 April 1881 |title=Scintillations. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18810426.2.14 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> a contract was let on 10 December 1880 for the remaining {{Convert|4|mi|11|ch|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appendix F. Schedule of Railway Contracts Current on the 1st April, 1880 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1881/I/939 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> and a start was made in June 1881,<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 July 1883 |title=Country news. New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18830706.2.44 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1884 |title=Annual report on railways in the north island by the engineer in charge. |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1884/II/585 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> but it was not until October 1883 that authority was sought for a solid platform at the station, which was rebuilt<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=25 September 1883 |title=The Kawakawa railway extension. New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18830925.2.46 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>''<ref name=":3102">{{Cite web |last=Scoble |first=Juliet |title=Station Archive |url=https://railheritage.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Station_Archive_4web-2.xls |website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand}}</ref>'' before the extension opened. In 1876, a settlement with a deepwater port had been proposed, and in 1881 plans for a town named "Newport" were published. It became known as Opua and the railway from Kawakawa opened on 7 April 1884.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 May 1884 |title=New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18840501.2.18 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>  The spur to Taumarere wharf was no longer necessary, as Opua's port was far superior, and the {{Convert|38|ch}} to the Derrick Wharf closed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Return No. 19. Comparative statement of Mileage of Railways Open for Traffic and Under Maintenance on 31st March, 1885 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1885/I/1173 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The company declined an offer to run the line,<ref name=":02" /> as it did not wish to raise more capital,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 August 1883 |title=Bay of Islands Coal Company. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18830810.2.26 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> so the track was operated by [[New Zealand Railways Department]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 August 1884 |title=Bay of Islands coal company. Auckland Star |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18840808.2.30 |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The company sold the tramway to the government and paid 6% of the total cost of the line to lease it back.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 1876 |title=Bay of Islands coal company. Daily Southern Cross |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18760129.2.21 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

It was some time before the isolated Kawakawa{{dash}}Opua line was connected to the rest of the [[Rail transport in New Zealand|national rail network]].  There were questions over its viability, but in 1899 parliament approved a connection with the line that was progressing north from [[Whangārei]]. A line 44 kilometres in length was required to link Kawakawa to the Whangārei section's northern railhead in [[Waiotu]], and factors such as poor winter weather and difficulties in accessing the construction due to the relative isolation of the region at the time meant that it was not until 1911 that the rails from each end met.

In 1925, the North Auckland Line was finally completed and the Whangārei{{dash}}Opua section was linked to the national network.

==Stations==

These were the stations on the Otiria-Opua section of the North Auckland Line:

{| class=wikitable
! Station !! Distance<br />{{normal|from Otiria}} !! Notes
|-
| [[Moerewa railway station|Moerewa]] || {{0}}{{cvt|3.46|km}} || 
|-
| [[Kawakawa railway station|Kawakawa]] || {{0}}{{cvt|7.22|km}} || 
|-
| [[Taumarere railway station|Taumarere]] || {{cvt|10.36|km}}<ref name=":02222222">{{cite book |title=New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas |publisher=Quail Map Co. |year=1993 |edition=4th |pages=}}</ref> || 
|-
| [[Te Akeake railway station|Te Akeake]] || {{cvt|13.32|km}}<ref name=":3102"/> ||rowspan=2| Whangae Bridge replaced Te Akeake from 14 August 1931<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 1931 |title=New Zealand Railways closing of Te Akeake flag station and opening of new flag station – Whangae Bridge (between Taumarere and Opua) |newspaper=[[Northern Advocate]] |page=10 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19310814.2.84.1 |access-date=2024-05-20 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>
|-
| Whangae Bridge || {{cvt|16.61|km}}
|-
| [[Opua railway station|Opua]] || {{cvt|18.29|km}}<ref name=":02222222" /> || 
|}

==Operation==
[[File:BOI-VR kawakawa.jpg|thumb|A [[Bay of Islands Vintage Railway]] train hauled by a [[NZR TR class|TR class]] shunting locomotive along the main street of Kawakawa]]
In the tramway days and the first years of the line, the predominant traffic was coal from Kawakawa for export.  By the late 1890s coal traffic had all but disappeared and the government initially expressed a desire to remove the line.  Local indignation was such that instead of removing the line, it was connected to Whangārei and then the national network.

When the North Auckland Line was fully opened in 1925, the [[Northland Express|Opua Express]] passenger train operated thrice weekly from Auckland to Opua.  Freight did not operate directly to Auckland; it was conveyed to and from Whangārei, with other services operating south.  Some trains were mixed trains, conveying both passengers and freight.

In November 1956, [[railcar]]s replaced the Opua Express, operating to the other northern terminus of [[Okaihau]] on the [[Okaihau Branch]], leaving Opua without any dedicated passenger trains.  Passengers had to rely on mixed trains, which did not connect with the railcars. The mixed trains lasted another two decades while the railcars ceased operating in 1967). The last mixed train ran between Whangārei and Opua on 18 June 1976.  From this time, this part was used to carry solely freight, almost all of which was output from the Moerewa Dairy Factory and Affco Meat Works to the port of Opua.  By the 1980s, regular freight services beyond Kawakawa were becoming irregular due to the decline of shipping to Opua as a result of containerisation.  It was last used in 1985 and leased to the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway to operate tourist passenger services from Opua to Kawakawa, including running down the centre of Kawakawa's main street.

The short stretch between Otiria and Kawakawa was retained as a link to the national network, but has since been dismantled and is now used as a footpath connecting Kawakawa with Moerewa (a disused siding terminates at Moerewa).  The tourist trains operated between Kawakawa and Opua until 2001, when the [[Land Transport Safety Authority]] withdrew the line's operating licence, as deadlines for upgrading and repairs had not been met.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2000 |title=Train loses its steam – New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/train-loses-its-steam/6CFDAR3OKHUS3HBJ7ODZOMRGFM/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>  Currently, operations run from Kawakawa, including the stretch down the main street, to Lone Cow. The terminus in Opua is on land now owned by Far North Holdings, the trading arm of Far North District Council, and negotiations are underway so that trains can return to Opua.

=== Cycleway ===
The 2009 plan for [[Okaihau Branch#Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail|Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail]] was that the Vintage Railway would carry cyclists {{cvt|10.3|km}}, between Opua (a new terminus at Colenso Triangle, {{cvt|1.2|km}} from the original end of the line at Opua wharf) and Kawakawa, over 12 bridges and through a tunnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yumpu.com |date=2009 |title=Full Feasibility Study Report – Far North District Council |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/34975591/full-feasibility-study-report-far-north-district-council |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Bay of Islands Vintage Railway]]''
*''[[North Auckland Line]]''
*''[[Dargaville Branch]]''
*''[[Donnellys Crossing Section|Donnellys Crossing Section/Branch]]''
*''[[Marsden Point Branch]]''
*''[[Ōkaihau Branch]]''
*''[[Onerahi Branch]]''

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Churchman & Hurst Railways of New Zealand}}
* {{cite book |last= Mulligan |first= Barbara |title= New Zealand Rail Trails: A Guide to 42 Ghost Lines |year= 2000 |publisher= Grantham House Publishing |location= Wellington |isbn= 978-1-86934-126-8 |page= 24 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer?token=4b131721-6bf1-4697-9b20-919639a276ba 1969 timetable]
*[http://www.bayofislandsvintagerailway.org.nz/ Bay of Islands Vintage Railway homepage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930174530/http://www.paihia.co.nz/Opua.cfm History of Opua]
*[http://www.bayofislands.co.nz/Feature.cfm?WPID=4457 News articles on the revival of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway]

{{NZR Lines}}

{{coord|-35.36|174.096|display=title}}

[[Category:Railway lines in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Far North District]]
[[Category:Rail transport in the Northland Region]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1871]]
[[Category:3 ft 6 in gauge railways in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Bay of Islands]]