The Original Railroad
The Otago Central Railtrail follows the former Otago Central Branch railway line from Middlemarch to Clyde. Construction of the railroad was started in 1891 and was finally completed in the early part of the 20th century. in those days it took travelers at least two days to make the journey between Dunedin and Central Otago, and even longer for freight.
The Otago Central Branch Railway was one of the longest and most fascinating inland branch lines in New Zealand. When completed in 1921, 236 km of track had been constructed in 42 years, an average of only 5.6 km per year. Within that length were 97 bridges and 13 tunnels, also five major summits, the highest at 618 metres above sea level being 590 metres above the lowest point near the junction. The traverse of the Taieri Gorge in the first 45 km of the line alone required 19 bridges and 10 tunnels.
As the line never served any major settlements, its largest centres being the towns of Middlemarch, Ranfurly and Alexandra, its future fell into doubt in the middle years of the 20th century. As roads improved, cars became faster and restrictions on distances trucks were permitted to carry goods were lifted, the railway's use waned. However unlike some other branches the line got a late reprieve for a major construction project, in this case the Clyde hydro-electric dam, which began in the late 1970s. This saw the section from Clyde to Cromwell closed with a new terminus at Clyde geared around the requirements of the dam project.
From its inception in 1978, the Otago Excursion Train Trust (OETT), of Dunedin, ran regular excursions on the line, particularly in the Taieri Gorge, and the Blossom Festival trips to Alexandra became a regular annual feature. From 1987 the OETT began the operation of a daily passenger excursion to Pukerangi, the Taieri Gorge Limited, using its own newly constructed passenger cars with the regular OETT carriage stock.
It was announced that the line was to close from May 1990. Following the closure, the OETT and Dunedin City Council formed a joint venture, the Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd, to buy the track to Middlemarch. Track on the rest of the line was removed over the next couple of years and this section has become the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Building the Otago Central Rail Trail
The Department of Conservation saw the disused railway's potential for outdoors enthusiasts, and acquired the line in 1993. Then in partnership with the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust and with the expenditure of over $850,000 over six years were spent preparing and upgrading the closed railway for its current use. This involved re-decking the trail's 68 bridges, several over 100m in length, and furnishing them with hand rails (check out the bridge photos above which show handrails clearly for those of you who don’t like heights !). All the railway's original sleepers, rails and crushed rock ballast have been removed, and users now find a track similar to a gravel road. The difference is, on the Rail Trail, there are no motor vehicles or hills!
The Rail Trail is now one of a kind within New Zealand. Steeped in a sense of history and remoteness, it provides a chance to view scenery unable to be seen from the highway. It has also preserved largely intact, an important part of Otago's heritage
Please note that on-going enhancements of the Rail Trail greatly depend on grants and other additional funds raised by the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust. For example the ten dollars that you spend on your Trail passport goes to the Trust to fund ongoing enhancements on the trail. These enhancements include the information signs dotted along the trail (detailing points of interest and information such as food and water, and accommodation), eco-toilets, the upgraded and new gangers sheds and seats (shown in the photos above).
The Department of Conservation (commonly known throughout New Zealand as DOC) are responsible for the maintenance of the actual trail itself (re-gravelling, repairing any damage to the trail through adverse weather, etc). Note also that Trail Journeys pay a portion of every guided trip and bike hire to DOC towards the upkeep of the trail.
Otago Central Rail Trail Passport
Purchas
ing this passport contributes funds to the Otago Central Rail Trust for ongoing Rail trail enhancement.
The Passport is both a quality souvenir and a record of your achievement.
It contains a Rail Trail map that includes information such as the location of shelter sheds (those identified with an ‘i’ symbol house information panels).
Each station site has its story and a space for you to imprint with the self-inking stamp inside the red, replica Railways Department phone box. If a stamp is missing or damaged, please refer to the poster attached to the inside of the door.
Rail Trail Passports can be bought from Trail Journeys at Clyde, Trail Journeys in Middlemarch (at the Middlemarch garage) information offices and most pubs, cafés, accommodation and other retail outlets along the Rail Trail.
$8.00 of the $10 cost goes to upgrading the facilities that are provided for you along the Trail. You can order a passport when you plan your itinerary through us. Please note that each of our Guided Ride customers are given a passport to record their adventure.
