The 50 Km Rotorua
Branch Railway was opened on the 24th November 1893 and runs between Putararu
and Rotorua. Construction was commenced by the Thames Valley and Rotorua
Railway Company and was completed by the Public Works Department.
The last train to run on the line was a special excursion on the 24th
February 2002 and since then the line became overgrown and many sleepers
and track fastenings have been stolen.
The
Rotorua Ngongotaha Railway Trust secured a lease over the whole line
in December of 2009 and have subsequently begun the onerous task of
reinstating it to a mainline standard. This is a film on the life and
times of the line.