26-429: The Taupo Totara Timber Company Railway ("TTT Railway") was constructed by the Taupo Totara Timber Company (TTT) to link their milling centre at Mokai with the New Zealand Government Railways line (NZR) at Putāruru in the Waikato region on the North Island of New Zealand . The more than 51 miles (82 km) long light railway line was operated from 1905 to 1947 by the Taupo Totara Timber Company. After
52-496: A ruling grade of 1 in 35. The construction contract specified 100 feet (30 m) radius curves on steep sections and curves of 3 chains (60 m) to 5 chains (100 m) on easier sections. Some of the sharper curves were later rebuilt with wider radii. Initially the TTT Railway operated as a private carrier, carrying TTT staff and their families, guests, freight, and mail between Putāruru and Mokai. From January 29, 1908,
78-436: A single span of 231 feet (70 m) and a total length of 260 feet (79 m). The structure consisted of four bolted laminated timber arches (two each side), stiffened by a timber through-truss. Except for hardware such as bolts, the bridge was built entirely of locally-sourced totara. To provide support and access during construction, the contractors in late 1903 erected a temporary suspension bridge. Prior to construction of
104-508: A van with passenger accommodation. The TTT used hand-operated train-brakes, controlled by a brake operator who walked along the tops of the cars, manually adjusting the brakes on each vehicle. The TTT Railway crossed the Waikato River at Ongaroto, approximately 5.6 km southwest of the present-day State Highway 1 bridge near Ātiamuri . The first Ongaroto rail bridge was built in 1904. Designed by James Fulton , this timber bridge had
130-716: Is part of the larger Marotiri statistical area . The SA1 area had a population of 174 at the 2018 New Zealand census , unchanged since the 2013 census , and a decrease of 6 people (−3.3%) since the 2006 census . There were 60 households, comprising 96 males and 81 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.19 males per female. The median age was 25.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 48 people (27.6%) aged under 15 years, 57 (32.8%) aged 15 to 29, 63 (36.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 9 (5.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 69.0% European/ Pākehā , 44.8% Māori , 5.2% Pacific peoples , and 8.6% Asian . People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer
156-670: The Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Moekino , Ngāti Parekāwa , Ngāti Tarakaiahi , Ngāti Te Kohera , the Ngāti Wairangi hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whaita and Ngāti Hā . Mokai Power Station is a geothermal power station owned by the Tuaropaki Power Company and operated by Mercury Energy . It was constructed in 1999 and expanded in 2005 and 2007. Mokai settlement is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 46.85 km (18.09 sq mi). The SA1 area
182-535: The Wellington-Manawatu Railway from 1882 under Harry Higginson (with his brother Arthur Fulton ), and the WMR manager and locomotive superintendent from 1889. He resigned in 1897 after accepting responsibility for an incident when his unofficial special train to Plimmerton with an engine and a carriage for his family met a freight train head on; trains were not normally scheduled on a Sunday! He
208-575: The NZR's Kinleith Branch Line . Mokai Mokai ( Māori : Mōkai ) is a rural community in the Taupō District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island . The local Mōkai Marae and Pakake Taiari meeting house is a meeting place for: Pouākani , the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Hā , Ngāti Moekino, Ngāti Parekāwa , Ngāti Tarakaiahi , Ngāti Te Kohera , the Ngāti Wairangi and
234-554: The TTT Railway opened its freight and passenger services to the public under the terms of a NZ Government Order in Council. The line provided a direct connection between Putāruru and the settlements of Lichfield , Tokoroa , Ongaroto, and Mokai. Passengers and freight for destinations such as Wairakei , Taupō , Tokaanu , and northern Hawkes Bay, would be set down or picked up at a siding approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) from Mokai. A Government road facilitated transportation between
260-405: The arch bridge, the suspension bridge provided access for Mokai traffic. The suspension bridge cables are visible in early photos of the timber arch bridge. In the late 1920s the timber arch bridge deteriorated and consulting engineer Stanley Jones recommended replacement. Following Jones's inspection and report, the company banned anyone from riding the train across the bridge. Trains would stop at
286-429: The bridge and the passengers and fireman would walk across. The driver would gently open the throttle and then jump off. The train would slowly ease across the bridge before being stopped on the other side by the fireman, where everyone would reboard the train. In 1931 a new steel truss bridge was built a short distance downstream of the timber arch bridge. Designed by Edgar Jones, of Jones and Adams consulting engineers,
SECTION 10
#1732793599288312-426: The bridge was erected by Wilcox and Company Ltd, at a cost of £10,000. The steel bridge was designed with two spans, supported by a central pier. The contractors sank a coffer dam and started building foundations for the central pier. However, a hot water eruption flooded the coffer dam, causing it to float off. It was decided to relocate the mid-river pier. Some of the steel-work had already been fabricated, so one of
338-475: The census's question about religious affiliation, 67.2% had no religion, 22.4% were Christian , 3.4% had Māori religious beliefs and 3.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (4.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33 (26.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $ 34,900, compared with $ 31,800 nationally. 18 people (14.3%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
364-679: The closure of the Mokai mill, the NZR purchased the 19 miles (31 km) stretch between Putāruru and the Kinleith Mill south of Tokoroa . This stretch of track underwent a major reconstruction, and is now part of KiwiRail's Kinleith Branch Line . The 82 kilometres (51 mi) line was built for the TTT between 1903 and 1905 by John McLean & Sons to carry sawn timber from the TTT sawmill at Mokai (23 kilometres (14 mi) northwest of Taupō ) to
390-494: The extension, and in 1914 passed legislation describing the process to be followed. The company was unable to implement the project, and eventually abandoned the Taupo Extension proposal. The TTT In late 1944 adopted road transport throughout its operations. The company disposed of its railway in two stages. The southern section from the "19-Mile Peg" to Mokai, together with branch lines from Mokai to various bush areas,
416-433: The government railway at Putāruru . It was designed as a contour railway by former Wellington and Manawatu Railway engineer and TTT director James Fulton , who in 1903 temporarily resigned his position on the TTT board to supervise construction of the railway and sawmills. The 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northern section between Putāruru and Lichfield was built on the formation of the former Lichfield Branch line, which
442-552: The northern section in October 1946. Starting on Tuesday, 10 June 1947, the Public Works Department took over the operation of the northern section, using steam locomotives purchased from the TTT. The northern section was reconstructed under a NZ Government scheme for development of the Waikato River basin and surrounding areas. The project was completed on 6 October 1952. This section is still in use as part of
468-601: The present-day Tokoroa Golf Course and Kinleith paper mill. From Kopakorahi it crossed the Maungaiti Range via the Wawa saddle, descending 1,000 feet (300 m) from Wawa to Ongaroto, where it crossed the Waikato River . The line continued south and uphill to the sawmill village at Mokai . Several bush tramways , some temporary, brought logs from the forests to the Mokai sawmill. The Putāruru to Mokai line had
494-474: The siding, Oruanui , Wairakei, and Taupō. A siding at Kopakorahi was used for changing locomotives. Heisler geared locomotives hauled trains over the mountainous section between Kopakorahi and Mokai . From 1914, trains on the easier northern section between Putāruru and Kopakorahi were usually hauled by locomotive number 7, an articulated Mallet Compound locomotive. A typical TTT train consisted of one locomotive (or occasionally two), multiple flat cars, and
520-466: The spans was redesigned as a cantilever supporting the end of the other girder. This bridge stood successfully until it was removed some years after the closure of the TTT railway. The timber arch bridge was dismantled in 1933 and the timber sold. The steel truss bridge's deck was expected to be submerged a "few feet" below the surface of Lake Whakamaru, when the Whakamaru dam was flooded. The bridge
546-430: Was dismantled and salvageable items were sold. Salvage of the southern section started on 26 October 1944 and was completed by 27 October 1945. The TTT continued providing rail service on the 19 miles (31 km) northern section, from Putāruru to the "19-Mile Peg" (south of Tokoroa). The NZ Government compensated the company for its operating loss on this service, until the line could be taken over. The NZ Government purchased
SECTION 20
#1732793599288572-560: Was originally built by the New Zealand Thames Valley Land Company (NZTVLC) to be part of the line to Rotorua . The permanent way (rails and sleepers) had been removed in 1897 after the failure of the NZTVLC's Lichfield town development (known as the "Selwyn Estate"), leaving only the earthworks. The TTT line continued south of Lichfield over easy country through what is now Tokoroa to Kopakorahi, near
598-630: Was removed before the dam was flooded. A concrete bridge was later erected at the site of the Ongaroto rail bridges. In 1911 the TTT put forward a proposal to extend their line from Mokai to Taupō via Oruanui and Wairakei. Residents in the Taupo district formed the Taupo District Railway League to support the project. However, the proposal triggered controversy. The NZ Government in 1913 issued an Order in Council authorising
624-483: Was that 75 (59.5%) people were employed full-time, 30 (23.8%) were part-time, and 6 (4.8%) were unemployed. Tirohanga School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of 28 as of August 2024. James Fulton (engineer) James Edward Fulton (11 December 1854 – 6 December 1928) was a New Zealand surveyor and civil engineer. He was born in Outram , South Otago , New Zealand on 11 December 1854, and
650-748: Was the driver with another company official as fireman. In 1897 he re-entered private practice and worked on the Wellington Cable Car , the original Kelburn Viaduct at Tinakori Gully, Ballance Bridge in the Manawatū Gorge , Ōtaki , Ōhau , Rangitīkei and Lower Shotover (on the Queenstown Trail ) bridges. In 1906 he visited the US and Europe to study new engineering techniques, then built Cambridge High Level Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Hamilton and Taupo-Totara Timber Co tramway . He
676-534: Was the son of James and Catherine Valpy Fulton . He was survived by his wife and daughter (born 19 June 1887). He worked for a short time as an engineer in flax mill, before becoming a Public Works Department cadet. In 1875 he went to Napier and in 1878 was promoted to Assistant Engineer. He left PWD in 1880 and worked on the Kaihu railway . He became Resident Engineer of the Longburn - Waikanae section of
#287712