New Plymouth Railway Anniversary

Fifty years ago (1st August, 1881), the first passenger train from New Plymouth arrived at Hawera. Before that date the terminus of the line was Normanby, but though the line beyond there was not ballasted, the contractors had so far advanced the construction that a special train was run on Monday, 1st Aug., 1881, to a special sale of Opunake and Manaia town and rural sections held at Hawera. The train left New Plymouth at 7 o'clock, arriving at Hawera about 11.30 a.m., and reached New Plymouth on its return journey about 8 p.m. The official opening of the line for general traffic to Hawera was on 21st October, 1881.