Motu Rail

A DigitalNZ Story by Colin Taylor

Image: A general view of Kaiteratahi, a rising suburb of Gisborne, Auckland, N.Z.

A general view of Kaiteratahi, a rising suburb of Gisborne, Auckland, N.Z.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Otoko Railway Station.

Otoko Railway Station.

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: Site of Otoko viaduct

Site of Otoko viaduct

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: An Important Link In The East Coast Railway

An Important Link In The East Coast Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: Building the big viaduct at Otoko

Building the big viaduct at Otoko

Auckland Libraries

Image: Building the big Otoko Viaduct on the Gisborne-Motu section

Building the big Otoko Viaduct on the Gisborne-Motu section

Auckland Libraries

Image: Train line at Ōtoko

Train line at Ōtoko

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Otoko viaduct - an important link in the Gisborne Bay of Plenty Railway

Otoko viaduct - an important link in the Gisborne Bay of Plenty Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: The East Coast Railway advances another step Otoko viaduct ready for traffic

The East Coast Railway advances another step Otoko viaduct ready for traffic

Auckland Libraries

Image: On the East Coast railway - the latest photo of the Otoko Viaduct works

On the East Coast railway - the latest photo of the Otoko Viaduct works

Auckland Libraries

Image: The route of the East Coast Railway - the Waikohu-Otoko section opened

The route of the East Coast Railway - the Waikohu-Otoko section opened

Auckland Libraries

Image: Temporary bridge and cutting at Otoko

Temporary bridge and cutting at Otoko

Auckland Libraries

Image: Piercing the back country of Poverty Bay - head of the East Coast railway construction works

Piercing the back country of Poverty Bay - head of the East Coast railway construction works

Auckland Libraries

Image: Some of the engineering difficulties which the constructors of the East Coast railway have to surmount - viaducts. cuttings and embankments in course of construction

Some of the engineering difficulties which the constructors of the East Coast railway have to surmount - viaducts. cuttings and embankments in cour...

Auckland Libraries

Image: The Construction Of An Important North Island Railway

The Construction Of An Important North Island Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: The Most Promising Railway In New Zealand

The Most Promising Railway In New Zealand

Auckland Libraries

Image: Construction Of The Great East Coast Railway

Construction Of The Great East Coast Railway

Auckland Libraries

Newspaper

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. (Poverty Bay Herald, 29 November 1911)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Pushing On The East Coast Railway

Pushing On The East Coast Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: Big valley that has to be filled in

Big valley that has to be filled in

Auckland Libraries

Image: £165,000 for the East Coast railway - pushing on through the backblocks

£165,000 for the East Coast railway - pushing on through the backblocks

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gisborne's big arterial way which will one day stretch to Auckland

Gisborne's big arterial way which will one day stretch to Auckland

Auckland Libraries

Image: Linking up the scattered East Coast-big and costly filling on the Gisborne-Motu Railway

Linking up the scattered East Coast-big and costly filling on the Gisborne-Motu Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: An Important Section Of The North Island East Coast Railway System Under Construction

An Important Section Of The North Island East Coast Railway System Under Construction

Auckland Libraries

Image: Spanning the gorge at 0toko at a cost of £11,773

Spanning the gorge at 0toko at a cost of £11,773

Auckland Libraries

Image: Building the East Coast Railway

Building the East Coast Railway

Auckland Libraries

Image: The New Minister For Public Works Preforms His First Official Function

The New Minister For Public Works Preforms His First Official Function

Auckland Libraries

Newspaper

THE BALLAST ENGINE. (Poverty Bay Herald, 02 December 1912)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

GISBORNE RAILWAY. (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 December 1911)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

GISBORNE RAILWAY SECTION. (Poverty Bay Herald, 06 October 1913)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

PROGRESS OF THE RAILWAY. (Poverty Bay Herald, 04 April 1912)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

EAST COAST RAILWAY. (Poverty Bay Herald, 16 November 1910)

National Library of New Zealand

Newspaper

THE RAILWAY. (Poverty Bay Herald, 20 May 1914)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Big railway construction works in progress to eventually link up the whole of the East Coast with Auckland, via Waihi, Tauranga, Te Puke, Opotiki, Gisborne, and Napier

Big railway construction works in progress to eventually link up the whole of the East Coast with Auckland, via Waihi, Tauranga, Te Puke, Opotiki, ...

Auckland Libraries

Image: THE BRIDGE IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION OVER THE OPUA RIVER AT KAITERATAHI, THE TERMINUS OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY

THE BRIDGE IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION OVER THE OPUA RIVER AT KAITERATAHI, THE TERMINUS OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY

Auckland Libraries

Image: The recent floods at Ormond, in the Poverty Bay district: view of the Waipaoa River, showing the Kaiteratahi railway bridge in the distance

The recent floods at Ormond, in the Poverty Bay district: view of the Waipaoa River, showing the Kaiteratahi railway bridge in the distance

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gisborne. New bridge being constructed at Kaiteratahi.

Gisborne. New bridge being constructed at Kaiteratahi.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Ormond [electronic resource] / drawn by T.C. Webb, M.Q. Gough, F.B. Cornwall.

Ormond [electronic resource] / drawn by T.C. Webb, M.Q. Gough, F.B. Cornwall.

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Railway to Ormond opening

Railway to Ormond opening

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: Railway construction in Poverty Bay, Auckland: Ballasting the new line between Gisborne and Ormond

Railway construction in Poverty Bay, Auckland: Ballasting the new line between Gisborne and Ormond

Auckland Libraries

Image: The Railway Line And Public Pound Building Under Water At Ormond

The Railway Line And Public Pound Building Under Water At Ormond

Auckland Libraries

Image: A View Of Ormond Settlement During The Height Of The Flood

A View Of Ormond Settlement During The Height Of The Flood

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gisborne-Motuhora Railway. Opening of first section to Ormond (June, 1902)

Gisborne-Motuhora Railway. Opening of first section to Ormond (June, 1902)

Victoria University of Wellington

Image: Group of men women and children present at the official excursion to Ormond at the opening of Gisborne-Karaka railway, 26 June 1902

Group of men women and children present at the official excursion to Ormond at the opening of Gisborne-Karaka railway, 26 June 1902

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gisborne, the progressive capital of Poverty Bay

Gisborne, the progressive capital of Poverty Bay

Auckland Libraries

Image: A meat train held up by a washout, near Ormond being rescued by a special ballast engine from Te Karaka

A meat train held up by a washout, near Ormond being rescued by a special ballast engine from Te Karaka

Auckland Libraries

Image: Ormond - Gisborne (Gis1-50/21)

Ormond - Gisborne (Gis1-50/21)

V.C. Browne & Son

Image: Gisborne from Kaiti Hill, 1934

Gisborne from Kaiti Hill, 1934

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gisborne from Kaiti Hill, 1934

Gisborne from Kaiti Hill, 1934

Auckland Libraries

Image: OPENING OF THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY: THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRAIN AT TE KARAKA, APRIL 13, 1905

OPENING OF THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY: THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRAIN AT TE KARAKA, APRIL 13, 1905

Auckland Libraries

Image: Trip to Te Karaka, January 1903.

Trip to Te Karaka, January 1903.

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: OPENING OF THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY: THE HON. J. MCGOWAN ADDRESSING THE ASSEMBLAGE AT THE SPORTS MEETING, TE KARAKA, APRIL 13, 1905

OPENING OF THE GISBORNE-KARAKA RAILWAY: THE HON. J. MCGOWAN ADDRESSING THE ASSEMBLAGE AT THE SPORTS MEETING, TE KARAKA, APRIL 13, 1905

Auckland Libraries

Image: Te Karaka Railway Station, with a "Wa" class steam locomotive and goods train alongside.

Te Karaka Railway Station, with a "Wa" class steam locomotive and goods train alongside.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: THE PROGRESS OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY: THE TUNNEL AT TE KARAKA

THE PROGRESS OF THE GISBORNE RAILWAY: THE TUNNEL AT TE KARAKA

Auckland Libraries

Image: Train with passengers, possibly at opening of Te Karaka station.

Train with passengers, possibly at opening of Te Karaka station.

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: Te Karaka on Opening Day of railway, 13 April 1905.

Te Karaka on Opening Day of railway, 13 April 1905.

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: Te Karaka on Opening Day of railway, 13 April 1905.

Te Karaka on Opening Day of railway, 13 April 1905.

Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o Tairāwhiti

Image: Prosperous Dairying Centre Eighteen Miles North-West of Gisborne Poverty Bay, North Island: New View of Te Karaka

Prosperous Dairying Centre Eighteen Miles North-West of Gisborne Poverty Bay, North Island: New View of Te Karaka

Auckland Libraries

Image: On The Gisborne-Rotorua Railway Route

On The Gisborne-Rotorua Railway Route

Auckland Libraries