stp170311spvillageWELL DONE: John Campbell of the Taranaki Electricity Trust, left, presents a donor plaque to Taranaki Pioneer Village Society President Barrie Smith last Saturday at the conclusion of opening of the Opunake railway station celebrations. Pictured are vice-president and engine driver Peter Webb (second from left) and Euwan McQueen fromthe Railway Heritage Trust.PICTURE: DEANE KELLY THE old Opunake railway station was re-opened on Saturday, and for the first time in many years a train full of passengers pulled away from its platform.
The location was different, however. The station has been relocated to the Taranaki Pioneer Village and its new life is as the station for the village's little passenger train - The Egmont Express.
The village train now has a train station and the historic building is being preserved.
The station was built in 1925 and ran until 1976, when the line out west was closed.
In 2010 the Opunake Lions donated the building to the village and with a $38,000 grant from the Taranaki Electricity Trust, the old station was refurbished.
On the walls there is an historic record of the western rail link and the rail line on to the old Opunake wharf. Inside the building is an original porter's barrow once used in the station and an old set of railway scales from the era. It joins the old Tariki station at the village.
There were about 90 people at the event and guest speaker from Railway Heritage Trust, Euwan McQueen, addressed the opening ceremony and recalled his travels on the Opunake branch line.
Nyla Daly, a previous stationmaster at Opunake, was visiting the village with her mother, and was unaware of the station opening. She was a welcome addition to the speakers at the opening, which included previous Opunake stationmaster Ross Pinfold, who recalled past experiences there.
Village president Barrie Smith said the acquisition of the station was a great addition for the site.
