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35-638: In the 1870s, coal was discovered in Ohai . Mines opened in the area, mostly with their own 2 ft gauge railways to carry coal. Coal production boomed in the area in 1882 when a private spur railway line was built by the Nightcaps Coal Company from the terminus of the New Zealand Government Railways Wairio Branch at Wairio to Nightcaps to provide more efficient transport of coal. In 1916

70-477: A decrease of 90 people (−25.2%) since the 2006 census . There were 117 households, comprising 144 males and 123 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female, with 39 people (14.6%) aged under 15 years, 39 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 135 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (19.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 74.2% European/ Pākehā , 41.6% Māori , and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer

105-561: A formerly extensive rural branch line network. The Ohai Railway Board Heritage Trust, which had no connection with the Ohai Railway Board, was involved in the restoration of steam locomotives including members of the P and V classes and a railway museum was established, but the trust has been dissolved. Mechanization of mining methods in the 1980s brought huge changes to Ohai (and the nearby sister town of Nightcaps ). Many families with generations associated in mining left

140-683: A privately owned railway extension from the New Zealand Railways Department 's Wairio Branch was opened by the Ohai Railway Board in January 1925. In 1934, this line was further extended beyond Ohai to Birchwood , but the terminus had reverted to Ohai by the time the line was incorporated into the national rail network in 1990. The line is now called the Ohai Line and is one of the very few survivors of

175-722: A proposal was made to build another line to coal interests around Ohai. The construction of this line was fiercely opposed by the Nightcaps Coal Company, fearing a loss of business. The Ohai Railway Board (ORB) was formed under the District Railways Act 1877. Much like the Port Chalmers Railway Company Limited in Dunedin , the ORB was formed with the backing of local government, and because the central government declined to extend its line. In

210-452: A recreational reserve are located in the town. The Takitimu District Pool is a large (33 metre) heated, covered pool in Ohai. It is open for use during daylight hours from around late October through to March. Sliding doors allow the pool area to be opened out to an outdoor garden. Public sessions are available at certain times most afternoons during the season. Once a week during these sessions

245-637: A shared design of tender. The later P class steel cab was also adapted for use on the V class. By 1926, all four Auckland members of the P class had been withdrawn from service, and the six southern members were retired within the next four years. Multiple members of the class are known to have been dumped in rivers to provide riverbank stability and halt erosion. Four P class locomotives have been rescued for preservation. All were salvaged from locomotive dump sites in Otago and Southland as incomplete hulks. In 1992, then- Dunedin based group Project Steam salvaged

280-525: Is a town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island , 65 kilometres northwest of Invercargill and 25 kilometres west of Winton . The literal meaning of Ohai is unclear, but a mural in the town centre reads "OHAI" and then curved underneath "Place of the Stone". The name Ohai was recorded by James Herries Beattie as in use for the area before 1840. Up until as late as 1958 Morley stream near

315-410: Is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 1.10 km (0.42 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 280 as of June 2024, with a population density of 255 people per km . It is part of the much larger Ohai-Nightcaps statistical area . Ohai had a population of 267 at the 2018 New Zealand census , a decrease of 39 people (−12.7%) since the 2013 census , and

350-438: Is now called the Ohai Line, and it is one of the very few survivors of a formerly extensive rural branch line network. The 1932 Ohai Railway Board Act defined the membership of the ORB as: Only one industrial steam loco was built and operated for the ORB. All of these locos were originally built for the ORB, but were later either sold to other industrial users, or placed into preservation straight away. The Ohai Railway Board

385-744: The A class of 1906 re-using the classification of the A class of 1873 . Initially, seven of the P class locomotives were deployed in Otago , with the remaining three based in Auckland , and in 1899, the Auckland fleet expanded to four when one was transferred north from Otago. The locomotives started their lives with wooden cabs in a Gothic style, but they were later replaced with steel cabs. The P class locomotives were designed primarily for pulling freight trains. However, they were also capable of working passenger trains as required, and photographs exist of

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420-449: The 'inflatable' is used in the pool. Alternatively, family or single keys can be purchased seasonally, providing users with unlimited use during daylight hours. Local coal, supplied by Solid Energy, heats the swimming pool. Many volunteers donate their time to help maintain and manage this facility. Despite concerns about the closure of the mine, many residents look forward to the establishment of recreational lakes that will be connected to

455-524: The British company of Nasmyth, Wilson and Company in 1885, but miscommunications about the weight limitations imposed on the locomotives meant they did not start work until 1887. This debacle came at a time when the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) was suffering from a lack of motive power to work on its rapidly expanding network and was part of what prompted a shift towards American and home-grown manufacturers. The classification of this class as "P"

490-742: The ORB to amalgamate with NZR. Following the 1989 local government reforms the Wallace County Council was amalgamated into the Southland County Council, forming the Southland District Council . The District Council took over running of the ORB from 1989, and the ORB's operations were incorporated into the national rail network on 1 June 1990, and from then on the New Zealand Railways Corporation operated trains on

525-612: The Ohai Railway Board, was set up to preserve facilities in Wairio and restore a number of steam locomotives of the P and V classes, but has been dissolved. The engines were recovered from being dumped by a river in Branxholme, formerly on the Kingston Branch town and now on the Ohai Line. 45°59′58″S 168°01′50″E  /  45.9995°S 168.0306°E  / -45.9995; 168.0306 Ohai Ohai

560-476: The area. However, the early days of mining were restricted by poor roads. Coal production boomed in the area in 1925, when the Ohai Railway Board opened a new line linking Wairio to the Ohai Railway District. This line also carried workers between Wairio and Ohai on a passenger steam train called the ‘Piecart’. In order to provide convenient transport of the coal to markets beyond the local area,

595-626: The area. In Ohai today, shearing now rivals mining as the biggest industry employer in the town. Recent times have seen a number of people move into the Ohai/Nightcaps area (many of them North Islanders), attracted by the rural lifestyle and affordable housing. Ohai's rural location lends itself well to many outdoor pursuits. These include fishing and duck hunting, the close proximity of rivers and duck ponds making these popular local pursuits. The Ohai coal mine closed in September 2021 Ohai

630-491: The case of the ORB, this was the railway line from Wairio to the new coalfields at Ohai. Local landowners, mainly farmers, funded the extension through mortgages against their own properties. After two Royal Commissions, construction was approved in July 1919 with a deviation through Morley Village, considered part of Nightcaps. The first section of the line, including the part serving Morley Village, opened on 1 September 1920. Ohai

665-427: The census's question about religious affiliation, 42.7% had no religion, 34.8% were Christian , 3.4% had Māori religious beliefs , 1.1% were Hindu and 4.5% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (2.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 93 (40.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 9 people (3.9%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15

700-486: The engines occasionally pulling special excursion trains. Some changes were found necessary to obtain the best performance from them; the smokeboxes were extended, and the original Belpaire-type boilers were replaced with a new type to an NZR design. The passenger equivalent of the P class was the V class 2-6-2 tender locomotives, which were designed primarily for express passenger work. The locomotives had boilers of similar dimensions but were not interchangeable, as well as

735-576: The existence of a subsidence issue or problem." "However, any subsidence would have been obvious during the camera survey", Mr Adamson said. Ohai CDA chairman John Hogg said he had not heard of houses or gardens subsiding in the township. Council chief executive Dave Adamson said he had asked staff to look at the problem, but many old mining towns in New Zealand had tunnels underneath them. "As far as I know we haven't had any direct reports of subsidence issues to date," he said. However, going public with

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770-692: The line. In 1992 the Southland District Council sold the ORB to New Zealand Rail Limited , (the rail and ferry operations of the Railways Corporation, which was split off from the corporation in 1991) who paid $ 1.2 million for the line and other assets of the ORB. The proceeds of this sale were used to form the Ohai Railway Board Trust, which grants money to local projects. The line still serves coal trains between Invercargill and Nightcaps. The line

805-461: The local trout stream, and the construction of walkways around the Morley streams and proposed lakes. An example of the coal mine rehabilitation with the similar community use concept can be found at Glyncorrwg, South Wales, United Kingdom. Major petroleum company L&M Energy is successfully completing the final stages of its well-drilling programme for coal seam gas production on the outskirts of

840-516: The old Wairaki 3 mine works. In July, a man had called the council claiming his drainage system was affected by subsidence, but an engineer had concluded it was not the case. Solid Energy had told the council the risk of subsidence from the old Wairaki 3 mine works, which lie under the northern side of the township, was "very minimal", he said, since subsidence normally occurred in the first few years, but they would continue working together to examine it. After an unrelated survey of 2 km of pipes

875-534: The potential subsidence issue was not welcomed by some in Ohai. One of the CDA members who resigned, said he was unhappy another CDA member had gone to the Southland Times,(Regional Newspaper). NZR P class (1885) The P class was a class of steam locomotives built to haul freight trains on the national rail network of New Zealand . The class consisted of ten individual locomotives ordered from

910-635: The remains of P 25 and P 107 from Beaumont on the former Roxburgh Branch. Both locomotives were moved to Dunedin for restoration; due to the poor condition of P 107's frame, the locomotive's frame was swapped with that from its sister locomotive. In 2009, the rolling chassis of P 107 was trucked from Dunedin to Springfield for storage at the Midland Rail Heritage Trust's centre, where the restoration will be completed. Both locomotives were dumped with their tenders and other fittings still attached, and so are more complete than other examples of

945-576: The terminus was reverted to Reeds in 1956, with a brief reopening of the line from Reeds to Morely in 1960, before the terminus again reverted to Ohai. Economic reform in the 1980s ultimately led to the demise of the ORB. One of the ORB's members, the State Mines Department, became Coal Corporation on 1 April 1987. According to one source, the Coal Corporation and the New Zealand Railways Corporation (NZR) "put pressure" on

980-600: The town was officially called Ohai Stream in the Wairio District Survey maps. It is likely that the area was originally named in relation to an historic Maori stone quarry that is nearby as described in New Zealand Archaeological Association Schedule & Maps of Recorded Archaeological Sites, Map 7, Page 271 Ohai township was founded in 1917 following the discovery of large amounts of high quality coal in

1015-496: The town. If the Ohai coal seam gas project is able to convert its existing 3P gas reserves into 2P reserves for development, it could be the biggest onshore gas project in New Zealand, creating growth and opportunities in this town. During 2012 there was some concern from some residents of a possible mine subsidence risk in Ohai, due to several old mining tunnels under the Northern part of the township dating from pre-World War II,

1050-592: The type. In 2004, the Ohai Railway Board Heritage Trust salvaged the remains of P 60 and P 133 from the Branxholme locomotive dumpsite on the Wairio Branch . Both were moved to the group's workshop at Wairio where they were placed in outside storage. In 2014, the hulk of P 133 was moved from Wairio to Mosgiel , pending transport to Middlemarch where it will be stored pending the funding needed to restore it to working order. Both of

1085-774: Was closely associated with the railway preservation movement. It donated its steam locomotives X 442 and W 794 to the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society in 1968 and they are leased to the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society for restoration. W 794 is currently in mainline operating condition and hauls heritage passenger trains in the North Island from its Feilding depot, and has been hauling Tranz Scenic's Overlander express on "Steam Engine Saturdays" and "Steam Engine Sundays". The Ohai Railway Board Heritage Trust, an organisation with no connection with

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1120-424: Was completed, Council Chief executive Dave Adamson said overall, the survey work did not highlight any areas that may cause significant immediate concern. "Now that we have some good information on the condition of the pipes it will allow us to plan better for the long term. It needs to be made clear the purpose of the survey was to determine the condition and remaining life of the pipes, it was not to prove or disprove

1155-554: Was reached four years later. The Nightcaps Coal Company ceased to operate, and they handed over their railway line to the Railways Department, who dismantled it in 1926 as the Ohai branch line was capable of catering for traffic from Nightcaps. In 1932, Parliament passed a local enactment for the ORB, the Ohai Railway Board Act 1932. In 1934, this line was further extended beyond Ohai to Birchwood, but

1190-403: Was that 78 (34.2%) people were employed full-time, 33 (14.5%) were part-time, and 15 (6.6%) were unemployed. Ohai is the terminus of State Highway 96 , which runs from Mataura via Hedgehope and Winton. The primary school closed in 2003 and students now attend school in nearby Nightcaps . A heated and covered swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, a bowls club, a police station, and

1225-494: Was the first example of the re-use of a classification that had previously been used for an earlier class. The members of the P class of 1876 had been sold to private companies or the Public Works Department , leaving the classification unused. The Railways Department chose to assign it to this class, setting a pattern that was followed with other classes in years to come, with the most prominent example being

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