Manawatu rail: Oroua Bridge Traditional Cache
Hidden : 2/13/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

One of a series of simple, easy to find, caches at railway stations in and around the Manawatu.

Welcome aboard the Foxton-Palmerston tram service to Palmerston! Last stop Bainesse, next stop Rangitane.

All the flat lands along the straight here were originally forest and swamplands, which lead to a large industry in hemp production (hemp is flax fibre, used for string and rope products). Oroua Bridge station was originally built on the Foxton-Palmerston tramway to serve the hemp industry, but it eventually became more important for stock as the forest was cleared. By 1891 Oroua Bridge School had 54 students. It was renamed Rangiotu in 1910 to commemorate the life of Hoani Meihana Te Rangiotu, an Rangitane leader who helped found this village and built the church here. He also proposed the name Te Marae-o-Hine given to part of the square in Palmerston North.

This station's busiest period was during the establishment of a military camp during the 1st World War. But in 1932 Rangiotu station was downgraded, and the permanent staff removed.

The rail bridge over the river was originally separate from the road bridge, but with the heavier loads a stronger, combined road/rail bridge was built. A dedicated road bridge was eventually re-installed, made of concrete, However by the 1950s it was cracking and heavy vehicle traffic was directed back on the wooden rail bridge, until it was replaced by the present structure. Now the rail bridge is gone, but if you lean over the upstream parapet of the road bridge you can still see some of the impressive foundation poles and irons of the old rail bridge.

Just past the bridge, heading to Palmerston, the road leaves the rail line and rejoins it at Rangitane Station.
Oroua River flood, July 1898.
Similar floods 1902, 1906, 1916, 1920, 1926, 1935, 1941, 1948, 1953, 2004

The area between Oroua Bridge and Jackeytown (Tiakitahuna) was flat, low-lying swamp and prone to flooding. The photograph above shows the view looking toward Palmerston North. Oroua Bridge station and platform are just visible surrounded by trees centre near top of the photo, the general store behind it (top of photo) is clearly visible. The bridge over the Oroua is not visible at the very top edge of the photograph. The people who now live in the general store showed me another photo, of their store in 1953, completely surrounded by another flood. During the 1906 flood there were reports of no dry land at all between here and Jackeytown! The Manawatu River rose 5.3m above normal at the Fitzherbert Bridge during the 1936 flood. Now there are major floodworks, diversion systems and stopbanks. However stopbanks can be a problem - if the water overflows them, it is trapped and cannot drain back to the river. Immediately after the river level dropped allowing the road to be reopened after the 2004 flood I was travelling to Levin and saw a house, near the Opiki/Himitangi turnoff, still flooded to the top of its garage door. Luckily the house was two story with most of the living space upstairs.

Check out this Facebook video of the June 2015 flood! This cache is a metre or two under water!

Cache is a camo painted 1.2L container. FTF gets to FTF a new TB. Good luck!

References:
Cassells, K.R.: "The Foxton and Wanganui Railway", published by the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, 1984.
Durie, Mason: "Te Rangiotu, Hoani Meihana", published by Te Ara The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, www.teara.govt.nz, undated.
Feilding Star, 20 July 1906.
Niwa Historic Events catalog, hwe.niwa.co.nz.
Video clip copyright Adrian McBrydie, used with permission.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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