Opua Branch - Construction

Construction

In 1868, the first part was constructed. Coal was mined near Kawakawa, and accordingly, a tramway was built to carry the coal from Kawakawa to the river so that it could be shipped from the wharf in Taumarere. The line's gauge was 4 feet 8.5 inches (1435 mm), international standard gauge, and motive power was provided by horses that hauled wagons along wooden rails.

In 1871, some surplus rails, wagons, and two steam locomotives were acquired from a railway project near Auckland and the tramway was upgraded to railway standards. It was purchased by the government in 1876, who had recently established the national gauge as 3 feet 6 inches (1067 mm), and re-gauged the line in 1877.

In 1876, a settlement with a deepwater port was proposed, and in 1881 plans of a town named "Newport" were published. It became known as Opua and the railway from Kawakawa opened on 7 April 1884. The spur to Taumarere wharf was no longer necessary as Opua's port was far superior, and it was closed.

It was some time before the isolated Kawakawa – Opua line was connected to the rest of the national rail network. There were questions over its viability, but in 1899 parliament approved a connection with the line that was progressing north from Whangarei. A line 44 kilometres in length was required to link Kawakawa to the Whangarei section's northern railhead in Waiotu, and factors such as poor winter weather and difficulties in accessing the construction due to the relative isolation of the region at the time meant that it was not until 1911 that the rails from each end met.

In 1925, the North Auckland Line was finally completed and the Whangarei – Opua section was linked to the national network.