When I placed this cache I thought this was the western terminus of the Remutaka Incline. Which means that there is a large amount of former glory that is no longer here - You can see some of that now - half the one platform has been ripped out, two sidings no longer connect to the main line, and the crossing loop which allows trains to pass each other and also serviced what is left of the second platform has been completely removed. The half platform has its shelter shed missing - the list goes on.
But of course this is not the western end of the Remutaka Incline. That was Kaitoke. However Kaitoke did not have the space needed for the yards, so that role was filled here. The Remutaka Incline Rail Trail also starts from here./p>
The old covered engine shed south of here is being rejuvenated as an engine shed for a restoration society, who would like to reestablish the rail line over the range. And I have heard rumours that the line will be double-tracked from Upper Hutt to here. I can't think of any good reason for this, unless they double track all the way through to Masterton. We'll see. The Remutaka tunnel is not wide enough for double-tracking.
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| Maymorn, 1970 |
Maymorn, 2022 |
Mangaroa was opened in November of 1955, as part of the new Remutaka Tunnel route. It was the third station to have that name - the other two being Mungaroa (a mis-spelling) and Cruickshanks Siding). This Mangaroa was renamed to Maymorn in January of 1959. Freight traffic was closed here in 1978. The crossing loop was retained but then removed in 1990. I suspect the other sidings were disconnected from the main main line later. And I find the removal of half of the width of one of the platforms to be really strange. Why would NZR do that??
Mangaroa (long stream) is named after the region, which is in turn was named after a stream that runs through it.
Maymorn appears to be named after May Morn Estates, an English company that set up a sawmill here with the intention of milling the Akatarawa Forest and converting the land to pastoral use and building a township. The mill was unprofitable and shut down in 1915 after only a year of operation.