IMPORTANT NOTE: This cache gets muggled often - please please put it back out of sight - hard against the dirt edge, under the first step, in the middle - you have to reach a fair way to do this - don't leave it just under the edge - it must not be visible from above or the side. THANKS!.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993, the Station itself being one of the oldest buildings in Ohakune, and the relocated Signal Box is contemporaneous with those which were originally at the Junction, although its new positioning does not accurately reflect its historical operational relationship with a station or railway line.
The Signal Box is in remarkable condition, and open for you to enter and fondle the handles of the 20 Lever Frame, designed to operate points and signals through cables and rods. Have a look through the windows in the lower floor, see the complex electrical interlocking system below each lever, that ensured the safe passage of all trains.
Ohakune Railway Station is one of only two remaining NIMT construction era stations in the Central Plateau still fulfilling its original function and it therefore provides a direct link to the history of the railway and Ohakune's development. The pairing of the Station and Signal Box forms a representative set of early 20th century railway buildings for us to enjoy.
The cache is a 200ml Sistema box, camoed in brown, and slipped in an easy spot for you to recover, please be discrete as you retrieve and replace it in this very exposed position.
Please ensure you return it well back under the last boards of the step, so it is well out of sight
If you are curious about the point that the main trunk railway was joined, check out GC1MTBF
Logging Recommendations
This cache, (like most of Radionut50’s hides) is NOT meant to be hard to find – so logs saying ‘easy find’ are pretty meaningless. The reason for this hide is to introduce you to this piece of our country’s great history , so logs commenting on your experience are very welcome. You are also invited to crack the hint as you arrive, to reduce the chance of a prolonged search compromising the hide in this very public place.