Main Trunk Railway - North Island, New Zealand
S 39° 16.580 E 175° 23.360
60H E 361069 N 5651321
The North Island Main Trunk has been described as an "engineering miracle", with numerous engineering feats especially along the Rangitikei River and on the North Island Volcanic Plateau including the building of the famous Raurimu Spiral.
Waymark Code: WM649F
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/30/2009
Views: 8
This great engineering feat was constructed from 1885 to 1908. On 15 April 1885 the ‘First sod’ was dug for the North Island main trunk and on 7 August 1908 the first train to travel the length of the North Island main trunk railway left Wellington bound for Auckland. That first trip took more than 20 hours.
From the ASCE website "Over 30 miles south of Taumarunui, the North Island Main Trunk Railway climbs 2,086 feet to the edge of the great Waimarino Plateau. But over the last seven miles, an abrupt increase in altitude of over 700 feet posed an engineering challenge that led to the design of the famed Raurimu Spiral.
Created as an ascending spiral that incorporates a complete circle, three horseshoe curves, and two short tunnels, the Raurimu Spiral artificially increases the distance between Raurimu and National Park from just over three miles by direct line to seven track miles. This reduced the average gradient approximately 100 feet per mile, or 1 in 52."
On 6 November 1908, Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward ceremonially opened the North Island main trunk railway line by driving home a final polished silver spike at Manganuioteao, between National Park and Ohakune.
This is the place we have chosen to waymark. The co-ordinates are taken at the site of the Last Spike.
Location:
The Last Spike on The North Island Main trunk railway line, at Manganuioteao, between National Park and Ohakune.
Type of structure/site: Railway
Date of Construction: 1885-1908
Engineering Organization Listing: American Society of Civil Engineers
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Site: [Web Link]
Engineer/Architect/Builder etc.: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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