Kurow Branch - The Branch Today

The Branch Today

The forces of both natural and human activity cause remnants of closed railways to diminish and disappear, but relics of the Kurow Branch still exist. The formation of the line is still visible for much of its length, and some crossing gates, culverts, and bridge piles remain. The Maerewhenua River bridge is long gone, but the combined road/rail bridge over the Waitaki River to Hakataramea still exists as simply a road bridge. Loading banks or platforms can still be found at rural stations such as Papakaio and Uxbridge, and Otekaieke's station sign stands in a field. In Kurow, the station building has been modified by a farmer for private use and no longer fully recognisable. The most significant remnant is in Duntroon, where the station building has been preserved as a community crafts centre and as base for Duntroon's farmers' markets, and a water tank stands nearby in good condition.