Gaura

Ōwhango was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line,^[1] in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the village of Ōwhango, which lay to the north of the station.^[2] It was 5.64 km (3.50 mi) north of Oio and 9.11 km (5.66 mi) south of Kakahi. The Public Works Department transferred the station to NZ Railways on 9 November 1908, though bush had been felled along the railway route in 1904,^[3] by March 1905 a station yard was being formed^[4] and by August 1905 it was the railhead, with track laid 4 mi (6.4 km) beyond to the south.^[5]

By 20 March 1908 there was a 225 ft (69 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) passenger platform, a 22 ft (6.7 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m) shelter shed, with lobby and store, a tablet office, a loading bank, cattle yards and pens, a 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed with verandah, privies, urinals and 4 water tanks of 2,000 imp gal (9.1 m³) each, with water supplied by a hydraulic ram. A 6th class station, cart approach to the platform and fixed signals were added by 10 November 1908 and a sheep yard in 1909.^[4] In 1912 the platform was enlarged.^[6] In 1964 the timber platform front was renewed, but on 30 January 1965 the station building burnt down. By 21 July 1980 a building, with a brick veneer and a concrete floor, had replaced it.^[4]

By 20 March 1908 there was a passing loop for 48 wagons. In 1980 it was extended to an 82 wagon capacity.^[4] In 1910 a large timber mill and siding were built.^[7] Traffic in 1911 averaged 6 wagon loads a day.^[8] from 5 nearby sawmills,^[9] which cut matai, rimu and kahikatea.^[10]

Passenger traffic had ceased by 1976.^[1] On 2 June 1985 Ōwhango closed to goods too,^[4] though the crossing loop remains in use.^[11]

• 1979 photo of diesel shunter alongside platform and station building
• Photo of 1980 station building in derelict state
• Photo of DL Class passing on 17 February 2018