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Railways of New Zealand
The railway pages of Patrick Dunford
Little River Branch
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• Home > Branches > Banks Peninsula > Little River |
The Little River Branch was a 36 km branch railway from Lincoln, 12 km south of Christchurch, to Little River on the highway to Akaroa. It was built to tap a reserve of native timber and opened in 1886. The line was closed in 1962. In 1967, the 8 km section of railway between Lincoln and Prebbleton, part of the Southbridge Branch, closed.
In more than 40 years since that time, the formation between Motukarara and Little River remains well preserved and accessible to the public at a number of locations. The Little River station building and goods shed were also retained by the county council and remain today, the station as a craft shop.
In the early 2000s the Christchurch Little River Rail Trust was formed and has begun to develop the Motukarara - Little River section, which runs alongside the main highway for 14 km, as a rail trail, suitable for cyclists, walking and possibly horse riding. There are rail trails in several other parts of New Zealand, the most well known in Central Otago. From Motukarara to Hornby not all of the formation is readily accessible and parts of this route will be passed by a new track constructed alongside main roads.
The first section of the Rail Trail from Motukarara to Catons Bay Reserve at Lake Forsyth opened to the public on May 28th. Pictures of this 20 km section were added on the 5th June.
Little River Rail Trail Website
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Crossing near Little River
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Embankment near Lake Forsyth
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Lake Forsyth rest area
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Embankment near Little River
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Trail bridge
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Culvert
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Birdlings Flat? Loading bank |
Embankment near Lake Forsyth
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Trail bridge
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Culvert at Lake Forsyth
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Little River |
Little River
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Little River |
Little River |
Little River
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Little River |
Embankment along Lake Forsyth
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Little River |
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Little River |
Trail bridge - Kaituna |
Kaituna station
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Motukarara
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Trail bridge |
Kaituna embankment |
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Birdlings Flat embankment |
Trail bridge |
Trail bridge - Kaituna River
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Bayleys Road (Birdlings Flat turnoff)
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Bayleys Road (Birdlings Flat turnoff).
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Back towards Motukarara
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Lake Ellesmere
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Lake Ellesmere
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Rail Trail Bridge
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Catons Bay
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Unopened section to Little River
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Catons Bay bridge
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Birdlings Flat
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Culvert near Lake Forsyth
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Lake Forsyth
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Military ruins
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View towards Motukarara
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Lake Ellesmere
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Motukarara - Rail Trail entrance
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Motukarara - Rail Trail entrance
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Rail Trail bridge
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13 mile peg
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Rail Trail bridge
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Kaituna Quarry, powder magazine
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Rail Trail bridge
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Lake Ellesmere
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Kaituna
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• Home > Branches > Banks Peninsula > Little River |
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