Piriaka railway station

Piriaka was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line,[1] in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand, serving Piriaka. It was 5.27 km (3.27 mi) north of Kakahi and 4.63 km (2.88 mi) south of Manunui. It formally opened on 9 November 1908, though it was renamed from Pirihaka on 25 April 1902[2] and work was well advanced by 1903,[3] with the rails laid south of Piriaka by May 1904.[4] Goods traffic started on 11 October 1904. By 10 November 1908 a passing loop could take 48 wagons and there was a 6th class station, with water supply, privies and urinals, a 300 ft (91 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) passenger platform, loading bank, cattle yards and a 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed.[2]

Piriaka railway station
Piriaka in 1906
Location	New Zealand
Coordinates	38.924200°S 175.341900°E / -38.924200; 175.341900
Elevation	230 m (750 ft)
Line(s)	North Island Main Trunk
Distance	Wellington 387.27 km (240.64 mi)
History
Opened	11 October 1904
Closed	4 September 1972
Electrified	June 1988
Previous names	Pirihaka
Services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station Manunui Line open, station closed   North Island Main Trunk KiwiRail   Kakahi Line open, station closed

Piriaka on 1972 one inch map

aerial photo of Piriaka in 1964

The level crossing, on what is now SH4, was replaced by a concrete bridge in 1937.[5]

The railway delivered cream to Kaitieke butter factory,[6] which opened at Piriaka in 1913[7] and produced over 400 tons of butter in 1923.[8] By 1937 roads had improved, but the railway was still taking some supplies to the factory.[9]