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Railway line to Cobden Tiphead .1936.
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DescriptionVal Whittaker... As children we had a trolley we went on this rail to the Cobden tip to gather beach wood it was great fun on the trolley Date of Photo1936Map[1] ContributorMoe Bowes
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Date Created8th January 2020CommentsVal Whittaker As children we had a trolley we went on this rail to the Cobden tip to gather beach wood it was great fun on the trolley
George Gardner Val, it all turned to custard though when your trolley with everybody onboard came pelting down the hill from the Tip only to find the points into the gravel pit had been changed!Jason Murly
with those rail way lines into cobden is there eny photos of the link up to the rail bridge by the old cobden bridge want to see how they linkd up and where the lines went before the new cobden bridge
Harold Lee
Jason Murly Did they ever do that? Thought perhaps they just connected quarry with tip.
Jeffrey Harrison
Jason Murly The harbor board line for the Cobden tip head use to run to the Cobden quarry but there was a joining line to the Greymouth side that run over the first road bridge, later in the 50's(?) the harbor board got permission from NZGR to use the railways bridge, there was a point near the Cobden cave that the harbor board line joined the NZGR line to Runanga, part of the walkway from the current road bridge to the Cobden cave is on what was the harbor board line... in the photo you can just make out the harbor board line coming off the old road bridge and crossing over the NZGR railway lines on the Greymouth side.
Jeffrey Harrison
Found the much better photo i was looking for! the NZGR train is crossing over the habor board line of the end of the bridge.
Jeffrey Harrison
Cobden quarry, not sure when but likely pre 1900.
James Hume
My mother grew up in cobden as a kid and used to tell us how they used to ride on these trolleys from the tip head. She had a lot of fun times in Cobden as a kid
Jeffrey Harrison
Jason Murly The harbor board line for the Cobden tip head use to run to the Cobden quarry but there was a joining line to the Greymouth side that run over the first road bridge, later in the 50's(?) the harbor board got permission from NZGR to use the railways bridge, there was a point near the Cobden cave that the harbor board line joined the NZGR line to Runanga, part of the walkway from the current road bridge to the Cobden cave is on what was the harbor board line... in the photo you can just make out the harbor board line coming off the old road bridge and crossing over the NZGR railway lines on the Greymouth side.
James Hume
My mother grew up in cobden as a kid and used to tell us how they used to ride on these trolleys from the tip head. She had a lot of fun times in Cobden as a kid
Heather Newby
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admins updated
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
We used to o down to the tip and the 3rd shingle, in 50s, (swimming, fishing or to get Beachwood,, ) walk or on trolley
George Gardner
Jeffrey, we used to follow that locomotive down to the Tip in early '40's!
David Maciulaitis
George Gardner Was it the C or another one of their engines?
Terry MJ
I lived in Nelson Quay with that rail line just outside our front gate. As kids we used to watch the old steam loco coming right past our house while carting huge rocks from the Cobden Quarry down to the Cobden tiphead. Fished in the Cobden lagoon and caught trout, herrings and some massive eels in those days, but after many floods through the property over the years, dear old Mum and Dad had a gutsful and we moved to the big smoke on the other side of the Alps. Still miss the lifestyle we had then even though it was many decades ago. Safe streets, no need for shoes as no broken glass in those days. Always a quiet life apart from the night the horse pulling the local "night-cart" was spooked and bolted down Bright St while spilling drums of poo everywhere. Quite a nasty smell for a few weeks around Cobden. Apart from that, the only other excitement we had as kids was staying up late one night to watch the old wooden Greymouth Town Hall burn to the ground, maybe 1948 or 49, still remember it vividly.
Marlene Jackson Perry
Terry MJ i cant remember any of that Terry-------maybe it was 'before' my time.
Lol xxxxxxx
Terry MJ
Marlene Jackson Perry Haha you would NOT have enjoyed it the night the "night soil" horse went nuts and the drums of poo spilled off the cart and all over Bright St. God, the smell was terrible and stayed around for weeks. I remember all that very well but you would have only been about 4 or 5 yrs old. Haha.
Trish Rennie
Nimmo Park looked a bit wet in those days Bruce Nimmo
21h
Tania Tones Lawrence
How cool! Our family lived down Nelson Quay 70's-80's before and after the floodwall. Never knew this had existed in the past!
Terry MJ
Tania Tones Lawrence Never knew what it was like after the flood-wall was built as by then we had gone "over the hill" Shame to see the Cobden lagoon filled in but I guess it was the obvious solution to Nelson Quay's flooding problems.
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Yes was a great time., and we used to hop on with our Dad, and fishing lines, and off we go, we went from football paddock off Nelson Quay,forget name of grounds,Remember when dad first built his merry go round, he put it up ,and we rode for hours,,great times,
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Yes was a great time., and we used to hop on with our Dad, and fishing lines, and off we go, we went from football paddock off Nelson Quay,forget name of grounds,Remember when dad first built his merry go round, he put it up ,and we rode for hours,,great times,
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin That football paddock could have been what we used to call the "Rec" as in the 40's and 50's it had a large building on it which was built as a "recreation building" which is where the name, the "rec" came from. It was a large building with a dirt floor and used mainly for Rugby and League practice during the wet weather. Would that have been it ???
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Terry MJ that s right the Rec but, I was born19, 45 (end of war) Cochrane family name,.
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin I used to know a couple of the Cochrane boys, was there on called Collie or Coly ???? There was one young boy who had braces on his legs too, cant remember his first name.
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Terry MJ my Dad was Colin (coly) and my Brother Arnold, was Crippled (Elos Danlos syndrone) passed away at 60, would be 81 now, also had brother Lester, 1yr older,passed 35 and sister Elva 1yr older again, she died 14, got younger brother 70,now if you don t mind, what was your family name, and what part Cobden did you live?
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin Yes, of course Arnold, I remember him well and I knew there was a Coly somewhere in the family. Am sorry to hear some of your siblings have passed Glenys. Only seems a few years ago that I was running around Cobdens streets without a care in the world, hard to believe it was over 75yrs ago. My family name is Jackson, my Dad was well known around Grey as he was a model steam locomotive builder and engineer and we were down on Nelson Quay in the same block as Haydens, Nimmos, Sweetmans and Kays. My uncle Bill Moore had a grocery store in Bright St for many years and was quite well known around Cobden for the work he did in the area during WW2.
George Gardner
Terry, new your brother well as an after school playmate. Used to watch your father working in his workshop. Cobden was great in those days.
Terry MJ
Just remembered, that "football ground" you mentioned was the scene of a massive crowd at the end of WW2. Most of Cobden was there to celebrate the surrender of Japan. I was with my Mum and was 3 and a half yrs old at the time. That is my earliest childhood memory and could not understand at that age why everybody was so happy and why they were cuddling and kissing each other, will never forget that.
Trish Rennie
Nimmo Park looked a bit wet in those days Bruce Nimmo
Terry MJ
Trish Rennie We had a Nimmo family living next door to us all the time we were in Cobden. The family had Nimmos Grocery store in Bright St. Cobden.
Trish Rennie
Terry MJ The above Bruce Nimmo is my brother in law and a son of one of the owners of Nimmo ‘s store
Terry MJ
Trish Rennie Okay, our neighbour was one of the owners of the Cobden store, but cant recall his first name, was it Jimmy ??
Tania Tones Lawrence
How cool! Our family lived down Nelson Quay 70's-80's before and after the floodwall. Never knew this had existed in the past!
Terry MJ
Tania Tones Lawrence Never knew what it was like after the flood-wall was built as by then we had gone "over the hill" Shame to see the Cobden lagoon filled in but I guess it was the obvious solution to Nelson Quay's flooding problems.
Tania Tones Lawrence
Terry MJ no flooding after the wall thank goodness. We were number 15 & flooded a couple of times through the house while we were there. We were picked up at the front door by a jet boat once ☺
Terry MJ
Aaah, you were down the bottom end of Nelson Quay. My Mum and Dad were great friends of the Lindbom family who lived down your way. The Mum of the family used to teach piano, her name was Lil, short for Lilian I guess, the hubby was know as "Lacky" not sure of his given name, and their offspring were Robert and Margaret, might have been before your time as in those days we had never heard of a "jet boat' haha !!!!
George Gardner Val, it all turned to custard though when your trolley with everybody onboard came pelting down the hill from the Tip only to find the points into the gravel pit had been changed!Jason Murly
with those rail way lines into cobden is there eny photos of the link up to the rail bridge by the old cobden bridge want to see how they linkd up and where the lines went before the new cobden bridge
Harold Lee
Jason Murly Did they ever do that? Thought perhaps they just connected quarry with tip.
Jeffrey Harrison
Jason Murly The harbor board line for the Cobden tip head use to run to the Cobden quarry but there was a joining line to the Greymouth side that run over the first road bridge, later in the 50's(?) the harbor board got permission from NZGR to use the railways bridge, there was a point near the Cobden cave that the harbor board line joined the NZGR line to Runanga, part of the walkway from the current road bridge to the Cobden cave is on what was the harbor board line... in the photo you can just make out the harbor board line coming off the old road bridge and crossing over the NZGR railway lines on the Greymouth side.
Jeffrey Harrison
Found the much better photo i was looking for! the NZGR train is crossing over the habor board line of the end of the bridge.
Jeffrey Harrison
Cobden quarry, not sure when but likely pre 1900.
James Hume
My mother grew up in cobden as a kid and used to tell us how they used to ride on these trolleys from the tip head. She had a lot of fun times in Cobden as a kid
Jeffrey Harrison
Jason Murly The harbor board line for the Cobden tip head use to run to the Cobden quarry but there was a joining line to the Greymouth side that run over the first road bridge, later in the 50's(?) the harbor board got permission from NZGR to use the railways bridge, there was a point near the Cobden cave that the harbor board line joined the NZGR line to Runanga, part of the walkway from the current road bridge to the Cobden cave is on what was the harbor board line... in the photo you can just make out the harbor board line coming off the old road bridge and crossing over the NZGR railway lines on the Greymouth side.
James Hume
My mother grew up in cobden as a kid and used to tell us how they used to ride on these trolleys from the tip head. She had a lot of fun times in Cobden as a kid
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
admins updated
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
We used to o down to the tip and the 3rd shingle, in 50s, (swimming, fishing or to get Beachwood,, ) walk or on trolley
George Gardner
Jeffrey, we used to follow that locomotive down to the Tip in early '40's!
David Maciulaitis
George Gardner Was it the C or another one of their engines?
Terry MJ
I lived in Nelson Quay with that rail line just outside our front gate. As kids we used to watch the old steam loco coming right past our house while carting huge rocks from the Cobden Quarry down to the Cobden tiphead. Fished in the Cobden lagoon and caught trout, herrings and some massive eels in those days, but after many floods through the property over the years, dear old Mum and Dad had a gutsful and we moved to the big smoke on the other side of the Alps. Still miss the lifestyle we had then even though it was many decades ago. Safe streets, no need for shoes as no broken glass in those days. Always a quiet life apart from the night the horse pulling the local "night-cart" was spooked and bolted down Bright St while spilling drums of poo everywhere. Quite a nasty smell for a few weeks around Cobden. Apart from that, the only other excitement we had as kids was staying up late one night to watch the old wooden Greymouth Town Hall burn to the ground, maybe 1948 or 49, still remember it vividly.
Marlene Jackson Perry
Terry MJ i cant remember any of that Terry-------maybe it was 'before' my time.
Lol xxxxxxx
Terry MJ
Marlene Jackson Perry Haha you would NOT have enjoyed it the night the "night soil" horse went nuts and the drums of poo spilled off the cart and all over Bright St. God, the smell was terrible and stayed around for weeks. I remember all that very well but you would have only been about 4 or 5 yrs old. Haha.
Trish Rennie
Nimmo Park looked a bit wet in those days Bruce Nimmo
21h
Tania Tones Lawrence
How cool! Our family lived down Nelson Quay 70's-80's before and after the floodwall. Never knew this had existed in the past!
Terry MJ
Tania Tones Lawrence Never knew what it was like after the flood-wall was built as by then we had gone "over the hill" Shame to see the Cobden lagoon filled in but I guess it was the obvious solution to Nelson Quay's flooding problems.
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Yes was a great time., and we used to hop on with our Dad, and fishing lines, and off we go, we went from football paddock off Nelson Quay,forget name of grounds,Remember when dad first built his merry go round, he put it up ,and we rode for hours,,great times,
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Yes was a great time., and we used to hop on with our Dad, and fishing lines, and off we go, we went from football paddock off Nelson Quay,forget name of grounds,Remember when dad first built his merry go round, he put it up ,and we rode for hours,,great times,
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin That football paddock could have been what we used to call the "Rec" as in the 40's and 50's it had a large building on it which was built as a "recreation building" which is where the name, the "rec" came from. It was a large building with a dirt floor and used mainly for Rugby and League practice during the wet weather. Would that have been it ???
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Terry MJ that s right the Rec but, I was born19, 45 (end of war) Cochrane family name,.
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin I used to know a couple of the Cochrane boys, was there on called Collie or Coly ???? There was one young boy who had braces on his legs too, cant remember his first name.
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
Terry MJ my Dad was Colin (coly) and my Brother Arnold, was Crippled (Elos Danlos syndrone) passed away at 60, would be 81 now, also had brother Lester, 1yr older,passed 35 and sister Elva 1yr older again, she died 14, got younger brother 70,now if you don t mind, what was your family name, and what part Cobden did you live?
Terry MJ
Glenys Elizabeth Martin Yes, of course Arnold, I remember him well and I knew there was a Coly somewhere in the family. Am sorry to hear some of your siblings have passed Glenys. Only seems a few years ago that I was running around Cobdens streets without a care in the world, hard to believe it was over 75yrs ago. My family name is Jackson, my Dad was well known around Grey as he was a model steam locomotive builder and engineer and we were down on Nelson Quay in the same block as Haydens, Nimmos, Sweetmans and Kays. My uncle Bill Moore had a grocery store in Bright St for many years and was quite well known around Cobden for the work he did in the area during WW2.
George Gardner
Terry, new your brother well as an after school playmate. Used to watch your father working in his workshop. Cobden was great in those days.
Terry MJ
Just remembered, that "football ground" you mentioned was the scene of a massive crowd at the end of WW2. Most of Cobden was there to celebrate the surrender of Japan. I was with my Mum and was 3 and a half yrs old at the time. That is my earliest childhood memory and could not understand at that age why everybody was so happy and why they were cuddling and kissing each other, will never forget that.
Trish Rennie
Nimmo Park looked a bit wet in those days Bruce Nimmo
Terry MJ
Trish Rennie We had a Nimmo family living next door to us all the time we were in Cobden. The family had Nimmos Grocery store in Bright St. Cobden.
Trish Rennie
Terry MJ The above Bruce Nimmo is my brother in law and a son of one of the owners of Nimmo ‘s store
Terry MJ
Trish Rennie Okay, our neighbour was one of the owners of the Cobden store, but cant recall his first name, was it Jimmy ??
Tania Tones Lawrence
How cool! Our family lived down Nelson Quay 70's-80's before and after the floodwall. Never knew this had existed in the past!
Terry MJ
Tania Tones Lawrence Never knew what it was like after the flood-wall was built as by then we had gone "over the hill" Shame to see the Cobden lagoon filled in but I guess it was the obvious solution to Nelson Quay's flooding problems.
Tania Tones Lawrence
Terry MJ no flooding after the wall thank goodness. We were number 15 & flooded a couple of times through the house while we were there. We were picked up at the front door by a jet boat once ☺
Terry MJ
Aaah, you were down the bottom end of Nelson Quay. My Mum and Dad were great friends of the Lindbom family who lived down your way. The Mum of the family used to teach piano, her name was Lil, short for Lilian I guess, the hubby was know as "Lacky" not sure of his given name, and their offspring were Robert and Margaret, might have been before your time as in those days we had never heard of a "jet boat' haha !!!!
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Jun 2024). Railway line to Cobden Tiphead .1936.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 26th Apr 2026 03:30, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/26808