Otago Central Branch Railway

A Brief History

The Otago Central Branch Railway was one of the more interesting lines of the New Zealand Railways network. It had a chequered history even to get approval for construction, with competing propositions for the route to be

These included routes from Oamaru through to Danseys Pass and Naseby, from Palmerston through the Pigroot to the Maniototo Plain and even down into Tapanui through the Pomahaka Valley and thence to Ettrick, Roxburgh, Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell.

Dunedin, at first, was conspicuous by it,s lack of enthusiasm for the venture. The battle for the railway was eventually decided by Parliament under the auspices of the Railways Construction Act 1878, the eventual route being through the Strath Taieri to Cromwell. On completion in 1921, having taken 42 years to complete, the line would bring prosperity to many small settlements along its route such as Middlemarch, Hyde, Kokonga, Waipiata, the newly created town of Ranfurly, Wedderburn, Oturehua, Lauder, Omakau, and Ophir (2kms away from the Trail), Chatto Creek, and thence to Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell.

Many of these towns had been stopovers for Cobb & Co. coaches before the advent of the railway. However, with changes to road transport regulations, specifically the removal of the 40 mile limit, the line gradually became uneconomic. There was a brief reprieve when the Clyde Dam construction began, but when this finished, 150kms of the line, from Middlemarch to Clyde was closed. The section from Wingatui through to Middlemarch remained open because of a joint venture company that became the Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd, which operates the Taieri Gorge Train, on one of the most spectacular railway journeys in New Zealand.

For the statistically minded, there were 97 bridges, 13 tunnels and the highest point reached by the line was 618 metres above sea level. The Wingatui Viaduct is still the largest wrought iron structure in New Zealand, at 197 metres long and 47 metres above the stream bed. Further information about the line may be found in the excellent history of the line, ‘Over the Garden Wall’ by JA Dangerfield and GW Emerson.

The Otago Central Rail Trail

As the result of an initiative by the Department of Conservation (DOC), who saw the abandoned line’s potential as a recreational feature, the line was acquired by the Department in 1993. Some six years and more than $850,000 later, the Otago Central Rail Trail was opened by the then Governor General Sir Michael Hardie Boyes. The formation of a Rail Trail Trust, working in cooperation with DOC, helped to raise money for the necessary upgrading of the line to make it suitable for walkers, bikers and horse riders.

This involved the removal of all ballast and sleepers, new decking on bridges and provision of handrails. The result is a trail very much like a well-used gravel road, but with the advantage of no motorised transport of any form. Agreements were reached with various farmers along the route so that they may move stock as required, and users are asked to respect seasonal activities such as lambing.

The opening of the Rail Trail has provided an economic boost for the many small townships that had relied on the railway for their survival. Many old buildings such as schools, post offices, hotels and taverns have been given a new lease of life as accommodation facilities along the trail. The chance to view scenery not seen from the highways is provided by the Trail.

The peace and tranquility and sense of history surround you on your journey, and all these factors have contributed to making the Trail one of the most popular activities in Central Otago. Yet, because of its length (150 km), you are not constantly surrounded by other people. An experience not to be missed.

Bibliography:

‘Over the Garden Wall’ by Dangerfield JA & Emerson GW