A town that more than most needed a transport alternative. Water transport was great, but being tidal, the estuary restricted the number of sailings per day.
Roading was still basic and subject to problems such as flooding. The number of stage coaches / horses was limited. Trains were to provide a link to the Waikato and Auckland and be able to carry greater numbers of passengers and freight.
The Thames Lions Club Heritage Sign at the Thames Goldfields Mall Carpark
Marking the turning of the 'First Sod' 21 December 1878.
While the turning of the sod was to herald the coming of the railway it would be another twenty years before that happened!
The plans for the 'coming' of the railway are now available to view at Archives New Zealand.
Some of the files are as follows:
- 1882. Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], Kauaeranga Contract formation and permanent way, drawing No. 1 (sheet 2) plan and section of line, No. 2 plan of pitching, No. 3 cross section cuttings etc standards, No. 4 bridge site, No. 5 to 17 standards, Grahamstown to Kopu 0 miles to 4 miles 40 chains, scale 3 chains and 30 feet to 1 inch, 21 lithographs - Spec [Specification] 9342. Compiled from PWD 8375, 9050
The Bridge Sites (No 4) above.
Plan No 6 More detail on the Kauaeranga bridge
- 1882. Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], Hikutaia Section, showing plan of land to be taken by proclamation, at Shortland Wharf Kauaeranga River, W.H. Hales, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing . The plan shows land required to accommodate the railway line. (snip of plan below)
- Waikato and Thames Rly [Railway], plan showing land handed back to Thames Harbor Board under the special Powers and Contracts Act 1884, at Kauaeranga River 0 acres 1 rood 33 perches, scale 3 chains to 1 inch, one tracing
Railway and general researchers should all find something of interest in these plans.
For instance we get to see the streets as they were in the 1880s. Eyre Street named for the road now known as Queen Street.
We also can see the foreshore line and start to realise just how much land has been slowly reclaimed, and understand the background behind the threats of sea level changes.
Well all the plans / modifications worked! and The Thames-Auckland Railway (Thames Branch) was opened 19 December 1898. The photograph below showing the train having left the Grahamstown Railway Station, heading along Beach Road to Matatoke (giving the children of Thames a ride).
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| Showing a train full of children en route for Matatoke on the Thames-Auckland Railway. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-18981230-3-3 |
