Newspaper Article 1995 – HB railway history

HB railway history

ALL ABOARD, by Thomas Wheeler; published by the author, Tasman Street, Havelock North.

All Aboard tells briefly the history of the 40 railway stations or stops that used to exist between Napier and Woodville.

The first station was Spit, now known as Ahuriri.

Every tiny community had a station where the train would stop, either on schedule or if a flag was held out.

You didn’t have to travel far from Napier for the first stop in the 1920’s. There was one at Te Awa, Napier South, then came Awatoto, Clive, Whakatu and Tomoana before Hastings.

Up to the 1950’s, trains stopped at the Hastings racecourse.

It is of some interest that the little station at Opapa, near Te Aute, had refreshment rooms. The station was originally named Te Aute, and had railway cups so marked.

Photo captions –

Opapa-Te Aute railway station. This undated photograph shows an engine watering and passengers outside refreshment rooms. The station seems to be plastered with advertising hoardings.

Hastings in the 1920s. A crossing keeper stands on the road as a train approaches Heretaunga St.