Page 13 – Shannon Railway – 8 b/w photos
Top to bottom - a) Farewell to troops for the Boer War at Shannon Station, c.1900. {copy} Shannon members of the N.Z. Contingent being farewelled. On station platform before arrival of troop-train. 2 troopers (centre) wearing bandoliers are: E. Richards & E.J.S. Spencer. 2 other troopers are: W. Sherman & Percy Nation. Group of schoolgirls (left) one of whom is Miss Irene Knowles (later Leng-Ward). Used in book – “From Bush & Swamp”, page 42, with caption - A large crowd gathered at the Shannon railway station to farewell troops for the Boer war c.1901, including a party of school girls decked out in white pinafores. (see also – Acc.#s2002.082.0003 additional copies)
b) Farewell to troops of the First World War at Shannon Station, c.1914. {copy} Used in book – “From Bush & Swamp”, page 55, with caption - By the time the First World War began, fashions and uniforms had changed, but the turnout of people to farewell the soldiers had not, nor had the Shannon railway station, except for the addition of a gas lamp.
c) View of iron-work holding up platform roof of Shannon Railway Station c.1970’s. {copy} (see also – Acc.#s2002.082.0009f original photo)
d) Train derailed north of Shannon due to extreme wind gust during storm, 1915. {copy} Used in book – “Opiki – From Fibre to Food”, page 40,with caption - Railway carriages derailed just north of the Opiki Road level crossing, Makerua, during a flood in November 1915. Looking south the floodwater and carriages are on the Makerua Swamp side of the railway line. The house in the background was then occupied by the Yorston family and is still standing today (1978). – Photo: P.N. Public Library.
e) Another view of the derailed train north of Shannon during storm, 1915. {copy} (see photo d above). Cattle-stop crossing in foreground. Severe flooding occurred regularly until stopbanks and other flood protection works were carried out along the Manawatu River and parts of other rivers entering into it during the 1920’s. (see also – Acc.#s2002.082.0004 additional copy, dated c.1913)
f) Flooded main highway north of Shannon, near Kara Road, early 1900’s. {copy} Railway line just visible on other side of fence at left. Used in book – “From Bush & Swamp”, page 80, with caption - This view of the main road north with the Kara Creek bridge in the distance illustrates the logic in Frederick Venn’s proposal that cabbage trees should be planted on the road to indicate where the road was in times of flood. (see also – Acc.#s2002.085.0009 additional copy)
g) View of Shannon from railway crossing at Grey Street, c.1894. {copy} Albion Hotel at left. Used in book – “Cyclopedia of New Zealand”, page 1116, with caption – Shannon.
h) Shannon Railway Station, 1930’s (?) {original ?} Taken on a wet day. Shops on Plimmer Terrace in background with sign for shop of J. Roach visible under Shannon station sign on platform (left), this outlet for the Roach Bakery was in use from about 1912 until the 1940’s.
Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”
