It may take some time to arrive at its destination, but Progressive Otane's plan to build a replica of the town's original wooden railway station is slowly picking up steam.
Otane's station was opened after the rail line was extended to the town in 1876, when the town was known as Kaikora (and later Kaikora North) before becoming Otane in 1910 at the request of the postal service, so as to end confusion with Kaikoura in the South Island.
After the original timber station was destroyed by fire, a new one was built in 1894 which was staffed by a full-time station master and had a ticket window on one side.
With its station, large sidings and stockyards, goods shed and loading bank, Otane had one of the biggest railyards in the country, said Bill Dysart, a model train enthusiast and Progressive Otane member, who one of the main drivers of the project.
"It was actually one of the biggest railyards in the Southern Hemisphere because all the sheep, cattle and timber from around here came through Otane.