Newspaper Article 2005 – Opapa station back on track

Opapa station back on track

Rail enthusiasts win award for restoring a derelict water stop.

BERNARD CARPINTER

SPUD LANGLEY and a group of fellow rail enthusiasts have spent nearly 10 years working on a station where no trains stop.

Their efforts on the Opapa station, near Te Aute south of Hastings, have been recognised by an award from the Rail Heritage Trust – for the best station restoration of 2005.

Soon, they hope, their work will be recognised in another way, with trains stopping at the station again.

Mr Langley, a Hastings freezing worker, is founding president of the Friends of Opapa Railway Station, which was set up as an incorporated society in 1994.

“The station was derelict, ready for demolition,” he said.

“It was built in 1897, after the previous one burned down.

“Trains used to stop here for water, and there was a separate refreshment room the passengers would use while the train was taking on water.

“We’ve resealed the platform and redone the stormwater tank, the semaphore levers, the platform fence and half-tonne gate.”

The station was still not finished, but the award was encouragement for the enthusiasts to press ahead with the project, Mr Langley said.

The restoration cost up to $30,000 plus thousands of man hours.

The aim was to have the station ready so that excursion trains could stop there.

“We’re hoping to have a 1938 Standard railcar come here during the Art Deco Festival,” Mr Langley said.

Rail Heritage Trust chairman Euan McQueen will be at the station today at 1pm to present the award to the group.

Photo caption – Full steam ahead: Spud Langley and his team of dedicated station restorers hope that trains will stop at Opapa once again after $30,000 and thousands of man hours have been spent to bring the building back to life.

Picture: BILL KEARNS