Timaru's days of rock and rail

Pass Times

Photo courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum Photo courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum Photo courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum Photo courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum Photo courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum

Ripping it up: A small boy watches as the old line is dug up.

Rock on down the line: A wagon carries spoil from the quarry.

Road users: Cars and trains shared the same road space.

Large load: A diesel locomotive pulls an La wagon loaded with rock.

Heavy machinery: The work of line removal continues.

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A little more than 50 years ago, tramlines were part of the Timaru landscape, carting tens of thousands of tons of rock from quarries to Timaru's port. Today's Past Times page looks at the lines being ripped up in Otipua Rd.

June 28, 1958 – The Timaru Harbour Board decided yesterday to lift the quarry tramline from South Street to the Scenic Reserve bridge, and to reinstate the roadway affected to the standard required by the city engineer (Mr RJ Comrie).

The Timaru City Council's approval will be sought for the use of one of the board's cranes to carry out the demolition of the line. Salvaged material not suitable for re-use will be sold.

The finance and administration committee reported that there was sufficient stone available for use on harbour construction works at Timaru, which was easily accessible by road at sites in addition to the Gleniti area served by rail.

The chairman (Mr WH Hall) said he had consulted the city engineer, who was agreeable to the use of the cranes.

"If the board needs stone, and we hope that will not be for a long time, it can be taken from the present quarry by road," said Mr Hall.

"Only a little stripping would be required at the proposed quarry site near Hadlow. There would be a sealed road all the way. The committee feels that within the next 15 or 20 years road transport will be much cheaper and more efficient than railage after rebuilding costs.

Last time the tramlines were re-laid it cost the board about 22,000.

The tramline was first laid in 1899. Licences to construct and maintain a private line from the quarry along Otipua Road, the South Town Belt, and the road to the Caledonian Grounds were granted by the Levels County Council and the Timaru Borough Council.

Quarrying operations began on September 25, 1908, and ended on April 13, 1957, according to the report of the engineer (Mr BW Charman).

Excluding a period of 15 years between 1911 and 1925, for which figures are not available, a total of 81,166 tons of rock was quarried.

Between 1909 and 1957, 48,064 tons of rock were deposited on the Eastern Extension mole.

"Although the mole was completed in 1906, repairs were required in 1908, 1911, and 1912," the report stated. "During 1914-15 the mole was lengthened by 450ft, and a portion of the mole was built up in height. From 1916 to 1924 the quarry was closed, being re-opened in 1925.

Four years later, considerable storm damage was caused to the mole and the quarry was reopened until 1931. The quarry was again opened in 1939, being worked until 1941. From June, 1941, until 1955, the quarry was closed.

During the last 50 years there have been only three periods when the quarry has been closed for a greater period than three years.

"Providing no exceptionally severe storms are experienced, the stockpile of about 28,000 tons of rock should be sufficient for maintenance purposes for a further 12 to 16 years. However, a single severe storm could cause such a large amount of damage that more than the whole of the stockpile might be required.

"In the report submitted to the board at its last meeting with reference to the investigations of a proposed quarry site at Claremont Road, it was stated that there were about 1,070,624 tons of rock available, and that to obtain this rock it was necessary to remove 559,722 cubic yards of clay overburden. Since submitting the report referred to, a further possible quarry site was inspected near Hadlow. There appeared to be a long face of rock, with very little overburden at the face."

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