(rshsdepot) Kaiapoi, New Zealand

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Photo link:
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/dilly/b/amg103l.jpg

New lease on life for station
Source: The Press - Christchurch
Publication date: 2002-04-03

The Kaiapoi Railway Station was to have slipped quietly through the streets
of Kaiapoi early today on the back of a truck to its new home on the banks
of the Kaiapoi River.
The journey marked a new era for the station, which has sat forlornly
alongside the main trunk railway line for over a decade.

The 1904 Gary Troupe-designed building will be restored to its former glory
by the Kaiapoi Railway Station Trust and be used as the riverside town's
visitor and information centre.

Trust publicity officer Brian Kirk said yesterday: "Its been talked about
for 10 years and hasn't moved an inch. The next stage is restoration."

The move ends years of uncertainty for the Edwardian wooden building, which
has been vandalised and even set on fire.

The railway station trust has raised $150,000 to shift and begin restoring
the building, but fundraising is continuing.

Mr Kirk hopes when people see it on its new site, opposite Kaiapoi's icon,
the Tuhoe, they will realise there is still a long way to go before the
station can be something to be proud of.

"I hope when they see it they will realise we need help. We are just a
steering committee making things happen," he said.



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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #336
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org