Remnants of the Southbridge Branch Today

This line left the Main South Line at Hornby, on the outskirts of Christchurch, heading to Southbridge on the north bank of the Rakaia River. The entire line was opened in the same year, 1875 which makes it one of our earliest railways. The section from Southbridge back to Lincoln closed in 1962, then Lincoln-Prebbleton closed 1967 with the remainder being redesignated the Hornby Industrial Line. Prebbleton was later taken over by the short-lived “Southern Rail” museum project which for a time occupied the main yards. The yards were cleared sometime around 1988 and the track was subsequently lifted back to the north side of the Springs Road overbridge. The bridge itself was removed in the mid 1990s. For operational purposes the industrial line currently finishes just short of the Marshs Road crossing with the line beyond there mothballed.

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As shown above the line is the left hand of the two branches, the line to Little River which joined at Lincoln being on the right.

We begin our exploration on the outskirts of Prebbleton, in Marshs Road where we can see the disused and overgrown track on both sides of the crossing. Go east to Springs Road and turn right. As you drive towards Prebbleton, you can see the line coming in diagonally on the right. Optionally you can stop and hunt out the disused track amongst the weeds. At the overbridge site, you can see back along the track towards Hornby. The former Prebbleton station yard site lay vacant for many years but has very recently been developed for a housing subdivision. Continue along Springs Road until you reach Tosswill Road and turn left, after 150 metres reaching the level crossing site with the view north into the Prebbleton yard. Return to Springs Road and turn left, heading south. After 500 metres take a left turn into Birchs Road. As you approach the intersection of Trices Road, the railway comes in on your left. Continue south on Birchs Road, the railway route clearer after Hamptons Road, hard on the left side. As you approach the Robinsons Road crossroads, the site of the Ladbrooks station can be seen to your left with a loading bank still visible. Continue south along Birchs Rd until you reach Tancreds Road on your left, where you can observe that rails are sealed into the road. Continue 1 km further south on Birchs Road to approach Lincoln. As you enter the township, the railway veers away to the left through residential housing. At the T intersection of James Street, Gerald Street and Edward Street, go right into Gerald Street, and then take the first left turn into Kildare Terrace. Stop at the level crossing site and follow the path through the trees to your left. This crosses over a footbridge that is built on the concrete abutments of the railway bridge. Return to your vehicle and continue in the same direction (this is a one way street) until you reach South Belt and take a right turn. As you pass the entrance to the Mews, the railway crossed over the road here to enter the Lincoln yard to your left. Proceed along South Belt until you reach Douglas Street and turn left into it and drive to the end. Lincoln yard was to your left, the line crossing diagonally across it following the line of power poles.

Return to South Belt turning left, then turning right into West Belt, and then left back into Gerald Street, the main road. Now heading west, as you pass Lincoln University, you can take an optional side trip down Springs Road to the level crossing. Continue west now on Ellesmere Junction Road with another optional side trip possible down Days Road. 700 metres past its intersection, take the left turn from Ellesmere Junction Road into Leeston Road, heading south for 1.2 km to reach the level crossing with the Springston station site to your left. If public access is possible into the site you may see the former goods shed here. Continue south and south-west on Leeston Road about 2 km to reach East Maddisons Road on your right (with an optional side trip en route in Mounces Road). A side trip of 600 metres on East Maddisons Road to the level crossing site may give a view of an intact bridge on the north-east side of the crossing. Return to Leeston Road turning left and take the next right turn into Goulds Road, reaching the site of the eponymous station after 600 metres (to your left); there are no remains here now. Return to Leeston Road and continue south-east for 3.5 km until you come to Bethels Road on the right. Drive down this road for 1 km to the level crossing site, with the Ellesmere station yard to your left, where an old loading bank can still be seen. The line here was curving round towards the river, following the line of trees. U turn and return 250 metres back along Bethels Road to the intersection of Old Bridge Road North, follow this road for a short distance to view the approach of the railway onto the Selwyn River Bridge. This was also the site of the old road bridge for many years. As the road, now blocked off, took the left turn to go onto the bridge, the railway came right alongside it on the far side. U turn and go back to Bethels Road returning to Leeston Road, turning right to continue south-west. 500 metres after the Selwyn River bridge, you can see Old Bridge Road South to your right. A trip up this road will show you the point where the railway curved away from the bridge to continue southerly as before. The bridge was in the middle of an S bend that left the railway continuing on in a similar direction as that in which it had entered it.

Continue south on Leeston Road, after 1 km coming to the intersection of Selwyn Lake Road and turning right. Proceed 800 metres to the level crossing where, on your left, the Lake Road station was located. A substantial building is still present, and this was apparently served by its own railway siding. Continue westerly on Selwyn Lake Road until you reach Lake Road South on the left and follow it back across the railway, where rails are still embedded in the seal almost 50 years later, to Leeston Road where you turn right. 500 metres further on make a right turn into Brookside And Irwell Road and travel 800 metres west to reach the Irwell station site on your right. Several small bridges are apparently still remaining north of the station but are probably inaccessible from public land. However either of the small bridges immediately to the left and right of the road may possibly be built on former railway abutments. Return to Leeston continuing south-west for 3 km, with an optional diversion possible on Hanmer Road. As you approach the Doyleston township on Leeston Road, take a right turn into Petticoat Lane and follow it to Railway Terrace, which in both directions runs alongside the railway yard. Turn left and follow Railway Terrace to Drain Road, taking time to observe the excellent state of preservation of railway remnants in this yard, still almost unaltered after 48 years. At Drain Road, take a right turn to view the end of the yard and an old railway house; the road crossing still has rails sealed into it. U turn and carry on down Drain Road back to the Leeston Road, into which you make a right turn. After 1.5 km, as you approach Leeston, the railway crosses diagonally from your right. Take the left turn into Station Street to run alongside the railway as it approaches (along the left hand side of the road) the Leeston station at the far end; one of the buildings may possibly be the former goods shed. Turn left into Leeston And Lake Road then take a right turn into Woodville Street and go right into Flannery Street to access the public reserve through which the line formerly passed. Return to Leeston And Lake Road, turning left, and turn left into High Street; the racecourse immediately on your left also backs onto the railway route.

Proceed 1 km south-west on High Street then turn left into Southbridge Leeston Road. After 1 km turn left into Beethams Road and turn right just before the level crossing to drive alongside the railway to the Hills Road station site. Take the right hand bend in Hills Road to return to Southbridge Leeston Road, turning left. 700 metres further on take a left turn into Bealey Road, crossing the railway after another 700 metres, and continue along the road to a right hand bend which takes you southward to the Cowans Road intersection. Optionally take a side trip up Cowans Road to the level crossing, where your only clue is the line of poles, and return to this intersection. Continue westerly onto Southbridge Sedgemere Road for 1 km to the level crossing on the outskirts of Southbridge. The road curves around to parallel the railway as it straightens up at the entrance to the station yard. Continue now on Taumutu Road to Cryer St and turn left then travel about 100 metres to reach the station site on your left, although nothing of railway significance now remains here.

Remnants of the Kurow Branch Today

The Kurow Branch went inland from the MSL at Pukeuri, close to the south bank of the Waitaki River, except for a short extension to Hakataramea on the north bank. It was opened in stages from 1875 to 1881. Kurow-Hakataramea closed 1930, the rest in 1983. Kurow is close to the site of the Waitaki Hydro Dam and the line carried significant traffic related to that and subsequent hydro works.

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In this view, the Ngapara / Tokarahi Branches are seen directly below the line of the Kurow Branch. When I first did the map in Google Earth, I used L&S and found it extremely difficult to decipher some of their instructions. Eventually I concluded that there must be some mistakes in their written account. The symbols on the map, cross referencing multiple sources, are, I believe, the most accurate interpretation of their account against the other sources.

We begin our exploration at Pukeuri, directly opposite the freezing works. The line curved away from the MSL here to cross SH1. Go south to the intersection with SH83 and head inland to follow the branch.  Within the first km the routes close in. Continue west on SH83 with the railway 200-300 metres north. At Papakaio turn into Cameron Road to view the level crossing, then follow the sealed road parallel to the railway to reach the Papakaio station site which the road appears to partly occupy. Return to SH83 continuing west, turning into Gibson Road after 2 km and head north 1.5 km to Gibson station site. Continue north on Gibson Road to Peebles Siding Road turning left into the latter, continue west 1.5 km to view the Peebles station side slightly north-west of the intersection with Peebles Road. Continue west on Peebles Siding Road to Jardine Road and turn right, travel 1 km north to Irvine Road and turn left to view significant bridge remains 150 metres further on. Continue in the same direction on Irvine Road to eventually return to SH83 and turn right. Take the next right turn, Wilson Road, and travel 1.2 km to the level crossing near Aitchisons station. Continue north on Wilson Road until you come to Aitchison Road and turn left, crossing over the line shortly thereafter, and continue west and then around a sharp 60 degree curve to reach Uxbridge station. If you wish you can follow Uxbridge Road alongside the water race heading west, just be aware that you will need to ford a stream further on (this being the site of a bridge on the railway directly alongside). Alternatively Aitchison Road continues south back to SH83, as does Uxbridge Road eventually.

Continue west on SH83. About 3 km from the Uxbridge Road intersection another bridge remains in place, then another 400 metres further on, a now-private road leads north to the site of Black Point station.  After another 1 km the railway comes right alongside the road, diverging again 500 metres further on near Bortons station. The railway then continues in a straight line while the road goes left, and then comes right to close in again. As you near Duntroon, crossing the Maerewhenua River, the old combined bridge was about 100 metres downstream. Road access is possible to both ends of the former site. Opposite Middleton St in the township you see the Duntroon station building still on site beside the road. Continue west on SH83, the railway now further away to your right. The road veers left 3.2 km further on as the railway comes right alongside, turning south and then back west; you can see bridge abutments in the middle of the second curve. 600 metres further on was the Waikaura station. Road and rail continue alongside for another 1.2 km then split as the highway climbs up the side of a hill; 2.5 km further on, the railway crosses SH83 on a skew, then remaining close alongside as the road turns to follow it. Crossing the Otekaieke River on the outskirts of the township, the old rail bridge was only 30 metres to the left. The station site was about 300 metres further west.

Onward, westward, on State Highway 83. The next station 6 km further on was Strachans. In between are at least four bridge sites - 1, 2 (the largest at the Otiake River, where piles remain), 3, 4 - and another crossing of SH83, at which the road has been straightened. The current highway route thus cuts through the formation before passing the former crossing site on the right a little further on. Routes are right next to each other for almost all of the 3.2 km to the next station, Hilles. Several hundred metres further on the railway veered left to cross over SH 83 again, right on the south bank of the Kurow River – there is no apparent trace of the bridge today. As you approach Kurow, take Ferguson St on the left and then Gordon St on the right to drive alongside the railway formation as it approaches the site of the Kurow station. As you continue along Gordon St the line starts to curve around for the short run north to Hakataramea. Turn right into Ranfurly St and cross over SH83 onto SH82 for the crossing of the Waitaki River; the railway comes in on the right. The bridge, originally a combined road-rail structure, still stands at the time of writing, but a replacement project has commenced so it may not be here much longer. It appears that the Hakataramea station was probably in this area immediately north of the bridge. U-turn and drive back to Kurow, this time take the station road next to the Waitaki Hotel to reach the station site and building.

Remnants of the Tapanui Branch Today

The Tapanui Branch is somewhat misnamed, as the eponymous locality is about halfway along the branch, instead of at its terminus. Leaving the Main South Line at Waipahi, it was opened to Kelso in 1880, Heriot in 1884 and Edievale in 1905. The last section was closed in 1968; the rest of the line closed in 1978 due to damage caused by massive flooding. Kelso township was abandoned following subsequent flooding and today the railway goods shed is the sole remaining building in the area.

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The other line you can see upper right is, of course, the Roxburgh Branch, and it is interesting that the Tapanui line got within about 10 km of the former. At the time that Edievale got its railway, it would have competed with Lawrence as the railhead for the area. Subsequently the Roxburgh Branch was opened to Big Hill in 1910, Beaumont in 1914 and Millers Flat in 1925.

We begin at Waipahi on the Main South Line, 50 km west of Balclutha. The branch headed away east and then north from Waipahi, paralleling the MSL at the level crossing just off SH1 on West Otago Road. Take West Otago Road north out of Tapanui; as you cross the Waipahi River after 200 metres, the abutments and piers of the old railway bridge are visible 100 metres east. After about 300 metres, take an optional side trip to the right on Old Main Road to the level crossing site 200 metres further on. Returning to West Otago Road, the railway is now on your right for the next 1 km, about 300 - 500 metres due north, following the Waipahi River, before both routes turn in opposite directions. Continue on West Otago Road for the next 7 km to reach a level crossing with a small bridge still in place just to its south. The railway embankment at this location gives public walkway access to the No.1 tunnel about 600 metres south. Continuing north on West Otago Road, the Conical Hill station site is just past the level crossing on your left. Another level crossing of Conical Hill Road is soon encountered, then about 300 metres further on you pass the Pomahaka River Bridge on your left, which remains substantially complete. An option is to take the right hand turn 300 metres further on to River Road, which runs back south on the opposite bank to the railway in its stretch between Waipahi and Conical Hill alongside the Pomahaka River. However it is mostly unsealed and you will have to double back at the confluence of the Pomahaka and Waipahi Rivers, after 2.5 km.

Heading north on West Otago Road which has become Pomahaka Road, 1.5 km after the Pomahaka River bridge, we come to the Conical Hill sawmill site on the right. In its time this was connected to the railway by a private siding which must have crossed the road. The railway formation alongside the road is quite well defined as you drive past the sawmill site. There could have been sidings alongside this raised edge just outside the present fence but I really have no idea. This is just opposite the point where the railway passed in front of a local substation. As you continue north, the road and railway both take an S bend, left then right; 100 metres after the intersection of Koi Flat Road on the left you pass the Pomahaka goods shed. Road and rail are then parallel close together for the next 2 km until the railway turns away on the approach to Glenkenich station. The road turns eventually to parallel the railway, which crossed several bridges, one of which appears to be semi-intact in some form today. The station site is just north of the intersection of Pomahaka Road with SH90, which the railway crossed on the level, but there is nothing to be seen there. Continue north on SH90 with the railway just to the left of the road until the latter turns rightward towards Tapanui. We recommend that you take a left turn into Duncan Road South which keeps you closer to the railway although it is still diverging rapidly. About 1 km further on take a left turn into Station Road and proceed west for about 700 metres to a level crossing and the Tapanui station site. From here you can see the route heading north as it heads for the Pomahaka River. You, however, must U-turn and head back to Duncan Road South, turning left to head north-east and rejoin SH90 after 3 km. After another 1.5 km, turn left into Wooded Hill Road and drive west for 3 km until you encounter the level crossing on the outskirts of Kelso, just before a small bridge and 90 degree bend in the road. Now heading north, you pass a bridge site before coming to the Kelso station site on the right, where the goods shed is the only remaining building in the township; the remainder was demolished or relocated after two devastating floods, including the one in 1978 that closed the railway.

Wooded Hill Road soon takes a sharp left hand turn before reaching a T intersection with Ardmore Road; turn right into the  latter and continue north. The railway is now some hundreds of metres out to your right. At Park Hill Road you can take a side trip to the level crossing with a small bridge apparently still in place 300 metres north. Stay on Ardmore Road as you head north, passing another intact bridge opposite Kelso Settlement Road. Black Gully Road West leads to another level crossing on the approach to Heriot, where the road and rail are parallel throughout the township. Turn into Mathesons Corner Road, close to the station site, to follow the railway route. At a right angle bend the railway veers away. Continue east and take the left hand turn at the intersection with Cabbage Road. Continue until the intersection of SH90 and turn left, heading north. Drive another 5.5 km until you come to a right hand bend in the highway, going straight ahead into Edievale Road. Passing some old houses and abandoned shops, 200 metres further up you can see the Edievale station site on your left, where there appear to be no substantial remnants.

For an alternative trip back to Heriot, continue on down Edievale Road to McHutchon Road, turning left, continuing straight ahead into Dunrobin Road, which eventually leads to the northern outskirts of the township. The rail route is at the foot of the immediate hills in this Dunrobin Road view near Heriot.