PRIVATE RAILWAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21603, 4 January 1945, Page 6

PRIVATE RAILWAY

THE GASTLECLIFF LINE STATE PURCHASE URGED The Castlccliff railway.' which the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce and other local organisations are urging the Government to take over, lias a length of five miles. Operated by the’ CnstleclilT Railway Company, Limited, the line runs from Taupo Quay extension to the wharves at Wanganui’s sea port. To-day its business is confined to general freight and stock for the Imlay freezing works, but 40 years ago passenger trains maintained regular schedules between the town and the seaside. The only other railroads in the Dominion which are not controlled by the Government are the Sanson line, operated by the Manawatu County Council between Foxton and Sanson, and a section of track between Wairio anc! Reeds controlled by the Oliai Railway Board, Southland.

The history of the CastleclifT line dates back to 1881, when a meeting of Wanganui residents was called, to discuss the project. Subsequently the Wanganui Heads Railway Company, Limited, was formed with a capital of £15.000 in 3000 shares of £5 each. At that time the estimated cost of permanent way. locomotives, rolling stock, cattle yard, goods shed, locomotive shed and wharf was £12.000. The scheme was given sunport and concessions were granted by property owners, with the result that hv 1885 trains were running between Wanganui and CastleclifT. The company, however, did not survive after 1888. when it went into liquidation and the lino was taken over by the present com pnny.

The extension beyond Gonville in 19011 of the electric tramway system terminated (lie railway’s usefulness as a passenger-carrying agency and old cars were dismantled and converted into freight wagons. To-day the company has four locomotives, the largest being a tank engine of (he VV.A. class, weighing .'l7 tons, nurehaxod from (ho Government Railways about live years ago. •Because Government wagons run over this, set lion, (lie (rack is inspected regularly by the maintenance slatT of the New Zealand Railways. When the stranded steamer Port Bowen was being dismantled on the CastleclilT Beach the line was extended for two and a-ciiinrtcr miles to enable heavy mnionals to ho transported from the wreck.