A double page spread from the April 1931 issue of the New Zealand Railways Magazine.
This line, at least the Putaruru to Rotorua branch part of it, is one of the several lines of NZ's railway network that Steven Joyce, the Minister for big Trucks, wants to close.
steven joyce is a top bloke go the bigger trucks haha
ReplyDeleteThe Rotorua and Taupo regions are in much need of rail services, both for carrying the considerable amount of forestry traffic in this region, which rail is ideally suited for, as well as for tourists.
ReplyDeleteThe Kinleith line needs to be extended east across to Rotorua via Upper Atiamuri and Guthrie to the Waipa mill, located just south of Rotorua. From here the line needs to run south to Taupo via Reporoa and Broadlands.
This route would have much better grades than the existing disused line over the Mamaku ranges, and would link various large pine forests and large mills at Taupo, Waipa and Kinleith with the Port of Tauranga and Auckland. It would also serve the Fonterra dairy factory at Reporoa.
This route would link Rotorua and Taupo with Hamilton and Auckland along one line - ideal for a 'Northern Explorer' style tourist train.
General freight could also be carried by rail between these large growing centres, helping ease the ever increasing traffic volumes, particularly large heavy trucks, on State Highway 1 and State Highway 5.