Dargaville Branch
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The Dargaville Branch is a branch line railway that leaves the North Auckland Line not far south of Whangarei and runs westward to Dargaville. Construction of this relatively short line took approximately two decades, and when it was completed, it linked the now closed Donnellys Crossing Section with the national rail network. The branch has been closed to all traffic since 2014 and is currently used by a tourist railcart operation.
Goods wagons for logs in Dargaville railway yard, 2010.
Junction of the Dargaville Branch and North Auckland Line in Waiotira, 2010. The line to Dargaville branches off to the left, while the main line curves to the right towards Whangārei.
Dargaville railway station in 2018. The structure at left is the remaining structures from 1943 (the main station building having been demolished); the newer office at right was added for the railcart service.
Dargaville yard in use for tourist railcarts in 2018; in the foreground is a small turntable to turn the railcarts.
Donnellys Crossing Section
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The Donnellys Crossing Section, also known as the Kaihu Valley Railway or Kaihu Branch, was a railway line in Northland, New Zealand. Initially an isolated line of 35.91 kilometres (22.31 mi), it became a branch line when the Dargaville Branch was opened and connected it with the North Auckland Line and the rest of the national rail network in 1943. The branch was closed in 1959.
Former double track yard bridge at Donnellys Crossing in 2010: at right is the framework of the former main line bridge, while at left is decking now used for Donnellys Station Road.