Wellington railway station

Wellington railway station

Big-city railway stations, such as Wellington’s, were powerful symbols of civic pride and prosperity. Although motor competition had already begun to erode rail passenger traffic by the time Wellington station opened in 1937, it has remained a bustling passenger hub.

Community contributions

7 comments have been posted about Wellington railway station

What do you know?

Kiwi Girl

Posted: 27 Sep 2020

I remember mum and dad taking me to the cafeteria for lunch.. I would always have the Pie mash potatoes and gravy mmmm loved them Pies best Eva, and if we traveled up to Gisborne the rail car would stop at all the stations that had cafes we would get Pies, sandwich’s and tea absolutely wonderful trip all the time, that was always the best trips THANK YOU NEW ZEALAND RAIL FOR YOUR SERVICE it was a time I will never forget that I have of my beautiful Parents 🥰😍

Anonymous

Posted: 23 Feb 2019

I remember our mother would take us there for a bath after a night long journey on the Auckland express train. The bathrooms were somewhere upstairs where the toilets are now. You could hire a bathroom. The baths were lovely, deep with good hot water and we would be cleaned up before crossing the road over to the ferry for the overnight trip to Lyttleton. Quite a journey.

Peter Baxter

Posted: 24 Apr 2012

I can remeber travelling to Wellington from Taita (which was the end of line until the early 50's). The train consisted of the old red wooden "rattlers" usually 2nd class and guards van at the rear, hauled by a steam engine or later a small red diesel loco. I also remeber Mum taking my brother I into the Cafeteria, she would have a pot of Tea and a sandwich and we would get a milkshake and sandwich.

Anonymous old man

Posted: 01 Mar 2012

i love this building <3

Anonymous grandchild

Posted: 31 Jan 2012

My grandmother used to work in the cafateria that was in the middle of the station around the 1960-70s.

Craig McFarlane

Posted: 22 Apr 2010

The electric units in the 1950s and 1960s were used by most working folk, as well as university students, living in the suburbs. Such was the demand for rail transport that most carriages were full to 'standing room only' in the morning and again in the evening. Reading the Dominion or Evening Post was a challenge in such cramped conditions. As a university student I watched and learned how it was done. One could read the entire newspaper, regardless of the number of pages or how it was divided up, without moving ones arms past the invisible centre line of the seat. It was an amazing art of origami, but often silently scoffed at by those who read books or other academic literature.

Craig McFarlane

Posted: 22 Apr 2010

My main memory of the Wellington Railway Station in the early 1960s was the Tannoy loudspeaker system. The announcer would often present important information for commuters, some items lasting up to half a minute, but the echoing problem prevented almost everyone actually understanding what was said. However, the most important information was relayed by exasperated railways staff who shouted and waved red flags at commuters as we ran for our lives to catch the unit as the doors were closing.