Otago Central Rail History

The gold rush had already started waning when residents of Dunedin, then New Zealand's richest town, started lobbying for a railway through to Central Otago in 1871.

Seven years of fighting over seven potential routes followed, finally resolved by the local Member of Parliament's lobbying.

It took hundreds of men 15 years from 1891 to build the 150 km track from Middlemarch to Clyde. They used picks, shovels, wheelbarrows and explosives. Stones were hauled in by sledge, sand for mortar was carted by pack horses.

Constructing the Poolburn viaduct and tunnels took three years and 300 workers, thanks to delays caused by government cutbacks, snow, heavy frosts and floods.

For many years, the line stretching from Cromwell to Dunedin carried a steady stream of freight and people. Then cars became faster and more common and in 1984, New Zealand Railways' government-imposed monopoly on freight was removed.

Building of the Clyde dam delayed the line's demise, but the last train left Clyde on 29 April, 1990. The tracks from Clyde to Middlemarch were lifted in 1991. Taieri Gorge Railway operates an historic train excursion from Middlemarch to Dunedin.

It took seven years for the conversion from disused rail line to New Zealand's first and longest Rail Trail. New decks and handrails were installed on all of the trail's 68 bridges. All the sleepers, rails and crushed rock ballast were removed.

Otago Central Rail Trail was New Zealand's first, opened in February 2000. The Department of Conservation bought the line in 1993, three years after the last train ran. It took six years and over $850,000 to convert the trail for cyclists, horse riders and walkers.

The Otago Central Rail Trail, is mistaken sometimes for the Central Otago Rail Trail or even Otago Rail Trail. It was developed by the Department of Conservation in partnership with the Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust.

Our hosts will bring this history alive as we help you experience the Otago Central Rail Trail. When you join an OFF THE RAILS cycling adventure we will allow time so you can immerse in the history of gold mining central Otago, visit sites on interest and come away from your holiday with a new respect for the areas founding New Zealand gold mining history

Photos courtesy of GW Emerson Collection, Hocken Library Collection, NZ Railways Publicity