Pokaka railway station

Pokako was changed to Pokaka in 1922, to "correct spelling",[2] though both names seem to be used, at least from 1905[3] to 1945.[4]

Surveying for the route between Hīhītahi and Piriaka began in 1894.[5] Work on the station building began in November 1908.[6] A 6th class station was built by March 1909, with a 23 ft (7.0 m) by 11 ft (3.4 m) shelter shed, lobby, store and urinals on a 200 ft (61 m) by 15 ft (4.6 m) platform, a 20 ft (6.1 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, a loading bank, cattle and sheep yards and a cart approach. Pokaka was described as a tablet station from 1908 and a tablet porter was appointed in 1912. A loop could take 57 wagons, until closed on 13 September 1986,[2] prior to electrification. There is now only a single line through the former station site.[7]

The station closed to goods traffic in wagon lots on 21 August 1965 and to all traffic on 1 September 1971.[2]

Like the other stations along this part of NIMT, Pokaka had freight from several timber mills. Tiratu Sawmill Co applied for a private siding in 1920.[8] Pokaka Timber Co still had a private siding in 1943,[2] which ran to the west of the railway, probably from about 1935 to 1957. To the east,[9] to supply timber to the Frankton Junction Railway House Factory, a state forestry tramway[10] and sawmill opened in 1922[11] It closed about 1927,[12] or 1928.[13] In 1922 Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board and Manawatu CC took over cutting of manoao[14] for poles, though larger trees were milled into sleepers.[15] A tramway was laid in 1923.[16] A tramway to the Mangaturuturu valley was still in use in 1938.[17]

Last Spike Obelisk in 1921

In early 1909 a concrete obelisk[18] was erected to mark when Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, conducted a last spike ceremony on 6 November 1908.[19] A silver-plated spike was used, though the actual last spike was driven in about 300 m (980 ft) to the south, to complete work on the Manganui-o-te-Ao viaduct,[18] where temporary tracks met on 3 August 1908. The monument was four-sided, 6 ft (1.8 m) high and 4 ft (1.2 m) across the base, with black lettering on a white marble slab. It was about 20 ft (6.1 m) to the west of the line,[19] but moved a further 10 ft (3.0 m) west in 1973. In 1997 the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand put two new brass inscription plates on the monument.[18] It is now marked by road signs on SH4 and a small carpark.[20]

Manganui o te Ao viaduct
Manganui o te Ao Viaduct and road bridge in 1921
Coordinates	39.27878°S 175.38931°E / -39.27878; 175.38931
Carries	Single track of the North Island Main Trunk
Crosses	Hapuawhenua Stream
Owner	KiwiRail
Characteristics
Total length	290 feet (88 m)
Height	112 feet (34 m)
History
Engineering design by	Andersons
Construction start	1906
Construction end	April 1908
Replaced by	1967 reinforced concrete, 91 m (299 ft) long viaduct

Makatote and Manganui o te Ao viaducts are north of Pokaka and Mangaturuturu just south. They take the line over the Makatote, Manganui o te Ao and Mangaturuturu valleys, which descend steeply from Mount Ruapehu. All were designed by Peter Seton Hay and supervised by Resident Engineer, Frederick William Furkert. The concrete foundations and piers were built by the Public Works Department,[21] but as PWD's Mangaonoho workshop was at full capacity on the more southerly viaducts,[22] their steelwork was built by Christchurch firm, J. & A. Anderson & Co, who also built Waiteti and Makotuku viaducts.[23]

Both viaducts were made up of a central concrete pier, supporting Warren truss steel girders and built using timber scaffolding.[24] Like most NIMT viaducts, they were strengthened between 1925 and 1932, in preparation for the heavier K Class locos.[25]

Manganui o te Ao Viaduct

Over a kilometre north of Pokaka,[26] Manganui o te Ao Viaduct is a straight viaduct, 290 ft (88 m) long and up to 112 ft (34 m) above Manganui o te Ao River, supported by a single concrete pier.[27] Each 1908 girder was 122 ft (37 m) long, with 230 tons of steel in the bridge,[28] costing £8,840.[29] The original viaduct was replaced in 1967,[24] or 1964, by a slightly longer 91 m (299 ft) reinforced and pre-stressed concrete viaduct.[30]

Mangaturuturu viaduct
Mangaturuturu viaduct in 1921
Coordinates	39.30467°S 175.38987°E / -39.30467; 175.38987
Carries	Single track of the North Island Main Trunk
Crosses	Mangaturuturu River
Owner	KiwiRail
Characteristics
Design	concrete pier, two 30 metres (98 ft) steel Warren trusses.
Material	Steel
Total length	60 metres (200 ft)
Height	18 metres (59 ft)
No. of spans	2
History
Engineering design by	Andersons
Constructed by	PWD
Construction start	1907
Construction end	June 1908
Heritage New Zealand – Category II
Designated	20 February 2009
Reference no.	7779
Location

Photos -

• Last Spike Obelisk in 1913
• goods train crossing the Manganui-a-te-Ao Viaduct in 1913
• log being loaded by overhead gear onto F class locomotive 255 at Pokaka Bush ca 1928-1929
• 1947 aerial view of railway station
• 3 December 1966 crash at Pokaka