Mina is a small rural locality on the Main North Line at 119.4 km. It was formerly the railway station for the Cheviot township. The section of railway it is located from was formerly known as the Cheviot Branch because at that time, the main line was the route via the Weka Pass to Waiau. The Cheviot Branch was opened to Mina in 1910, and two years later it reached Parnassus, which was then the southern railhead for the line until 1939. The station had a humdrum existence through to 1986, when it was closed except for the crossing loop. The passenger station building was sold to the Weka Pass Railway and relocated to Waipara to become their Glenmark Station. The crossing loop was removed some years later and today there is nothing left at Mina to mark its historical railway function. Mina still exists on the railway map of NZ, but only as a Track Warrant Intermediate Board at 119.62 km.
Except where otherwise indicated all images are copyright (C) Patrick Dunford.
General layout of the Mina station yard. There were four tracks in total including the crossing loop, intermediate siding loop and the main loading loop which serviced the goods shed and loading banks, and the stockyards. A crossover was provided between the loading siding and intermediate road, dividing the loading siding into separate sections for easy servicing. The station building was mounted on a platform about 100 metres long. A water tower at the south end was replaced by a modern structure some time after the end of steam traction and may have supplied domestic water to railway houses justifying its post-steam retention. Not visible on this diagram are the engine shed and turntable built by the PWD for use during the construction era. These were moved to Parnassus when the railhead went forward in 1912 and were retained for many years due to the requirement to turn and service locomotives for return trips to/from Christchurch.
Mina in 1977. The five houses alongside Campbell Road are likely to be railway houses, and none remain today. The white-roofed building towards the upper left is of unknown purpose but could have been a way and works depot although this is unconfirmed. Of note the stockyards are still visible despite the fact that stock had ceased to be carried on NZR by this time.
Mina from the north end of the yard. The TW Intermediate Board is seen in the right foreground. In the Track Warrant train control system, intermediate boards are named locations that can be used to denote the commencement or termination of a Track Warrant section assigned to a particular train. (source: Google Maps)
A view from Goodshed Road across the former yard. This area would have contained the goods shed and loading bank area. Mina had both high level and low level loading banks. High level banks were only provided at select stations and were designed to allow bulk cargoes such as coal, fertiliser or gravel to be loaded into open topped highsider wagons such as L, La or Lb class. The more common low level bank was used for loading box wagons with side doors such as K, Kp, Z etc. The small building left of centre is the shelter that replaced the main station building. (source: Google Maps)
Mina Station building mid-1986. The relocation of the building required the removal of the annex that was on the right hand end, demolition of the veranda and sundry other tasks. In this view across the railway yard, the platform edge has already been cut back for increased clearance pending the eventual complete demolition of the platform following the building’s removal. On this day Weka Pass Railway members were working on the removal preparation.
Mina Station building mid-1986 during preparations for removal. Weka Pass Railway members are working on the building. Note some small sheds probably used for motor trolleys in the distance and the water tower of that time.
Mina Station and yard mid-1986 during removal preparations. Of note to the right the goods shed can be seen, as well as in the distance a low roofed building which could have been a railway works depot, the larger red roofed shed behind it is of unknown function and possibly none of these are railway buildings.
Mina Station and yard during preparations to remove the station building mid 1986. To the left visible are both loading banks. High level banks rather than being faced with concrete were commonly constructed using vertical sections of old rail as supporting posts for a retaining wall built out of old sleepers, for an earth filled bank. A box wagon is sitting in the backshunt in the distance.
Mina Station yard mid-1986 during preparations to remove the station building. A block of line was placed in the vicinity to allow track maintenance machines to work and this also facilitated safe work on the station site. Track machines are entering Mina from the north as they prepare to travel to an offloading point further south.
A view of the southern end of Mina with the replacement station shelter centre right. (source: Google Maps)
From the southern end of Mina looking northward. To the left is the unknown building that may have been a works depot. Far right is the station shelter, and in between a long narrow shed by the railway track that may or may not be for railway purposes. (source: Google Maps)
At the south end of Mina we have this building on private property. It does look a bit like a railway goods shed and even appears to have one of the old station signs mounted on it. However, this building has been on this site since at least 1959 and does not match the goods shed that was in the yard until around 1987 which had different dimensions and was located a few hundred metres further to the north. (source: Google Maps)