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Taramakau Rail and Road Bridge .1979.
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DescriptionPeter Moses. 1979. Rail and Road Bridge South of Greymouth, PHO-2017-10.250. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).PhotographerPeter MosesDate of Photo1979Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)TaramakauEventRail and Road Bridge South of Greymouth.1979.
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Category TagBridge
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Date Created11th March 2021CommentsSusan Barlow
What was once just a "way of Life" for us ... the norm, has now become memories. How quickly Life flies by!
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Susan Barlow so True .what was yesterday has gone .but great memories. For us all .so blessed to be a coaster .and to have grown up on the coaster
Les Ellis
Travelled many times over the bridge, used to call into Pub on South end for a refreshment then onto Greymouth bird watching.
Linda Sara
I loved this bridge. The clickity click as it was driven over always fascinated me as a child. And the pub at the end for a raspberry lemonade lol
Marion E Mundy
Tarzmakau bridge
· Reply · 12m
Kathryn Ward
Loved waiting for the train to cross, and the man on his bike opening the gates
Pauline Matene
Taramakau bridge, my brother Dennis used to monitor that, he lived right next door to the bridge. They had not a bad Pub there too !!!
· Reply · 14m
Cheryl Ann Mockford
I always loved this bridge
Marq Sarchett
Yip this is how I remember it
Lisa Schimanski
Phillip Schimanski
Warner Nut Curry
A real grab and gotcha
Margaret Mckee
And the man who would get on his bike to close the gate at each end when the train was due. He had a hut on the greymouth end
Dale Felmingham
Margaret Mckee And the best vege garden on Coast and caught the most whitebait Apparently as long as he opened and closed bridge gates at right times could do what he wanted in-between
Dale Felmingham
Margaret Mckee I also thought he lived in the house on North side of bridge on right side of road heading south
Alan Messenger
I rode over there many times on a bike. Was hard to stay on one board and avoid your wheel being caught in between the boards. Then there was the problem of jumping the railway lines.
Maureen Burnett
I used to hate going over it!
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Fantastic photo . Remember it so well .
Jenny Leach
Driven over this bridge many a times going up to my mother in laws place
Colin Lawler
I remember when the rail way staff stopped the traffic when the trains were coming
David Lindsay
Taramakau bridge
Kyle Webster
Wedding photos on that bridge
Heather Gaulter
As I remember it
Alan Sheehan
Alan Jones (Lily) was a gate keeper there at one time back in the 70’s too I believe.
Caroline Dunlop
That one’s to remember!
Lynette Clunie
I use to love going over this bridge as a kid heading to Kumara to have lunch at the old McFarlans Hotel with nana Annie HainesDawn Harris
I remember that bridge
Leane Macleod
Anne McEnaney I remember Barney working on the bridge and I had flown down and jumped out of the car to surprise him
Anne McEnaney
Leane Macleod i can remember that Leane. We had some good laughs ovet that. The guys in the gang gave him hell. He just laughed and told them he couldn.t help being popular. I.ll show him this tomorrow. He.ll remember. Lovely times great memories xx
Mandy Jean Partleton
Anne McEnaney my Dad (Dick Downing) used to tell us similar stories when he did work on the bridge too. NZR days.
Anne McEnaney
Mandy Jean Partleton good old days. Great stories to be told. I remember Dick so well. Barney was training the fire brigade waterways running team. Came home tp get something. The fire engine outside our place. Dick jumped out hose under his arm ran up… See More
Leane Macleod
Anne McEnaney give him my love and tell him I hope to be fine this year to see him
Anne McEnaney
Leane Macleod will do. Be great to see you. Xxx
Jacinda Te Rata Moran
I loved crossing this bridge for the first time with my son and partner on a road trip to my father inlaws home in Greymouth
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Sandra Hughes I have such a memory of Gran and I driving into Hokitika, Gran got too close to the side rails and ran up and over them and getting her wheel stuck on the other side. We were stuck good and proper and couldn’t move and had to call someone to come get us out
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes that was a common problem over the years.
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Lorraine O'Donoghue the memory is crystal clear, bless my Gran
Glad we were not the only ones! We certainly held the traffic up for awhile, while help came from Greymouth
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes I can just imagine the panic. I always hate that bridge and now I purr everytime I drive past it over the new bridge.
Sandra Hughes
Melanie Jayne Hughes lol yes gran could hardly see over the steering wheel in that car bless her.
Jill Foster
Melanie Jayne Hughes I remember Gran arriving at our house having had her car lifted off the rail of the bridge. Think it happened more than once. I always deaded driving over them. Blew a tyre crossing the Arahura one day, too busy looking at the w… See More
Val N Merv Brittain
I think I have been over that bridge
Pauline Matene
Taramakau bridge, my brother Dennis used to monitor that, he lived right next door to the bridge. They had not a bad Pub there too !!!
· Reply · 12h
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Pauline Matene did ya ring that Bell .
Pauline Matene
No love got locked in the loo
David Barry Grant
Pauline Matene I think Olive Mitchell Had that pub those days----spent a bit of time there!!
Anne Miller Mcmillan
David Barry Grant yip she
Helen Willis
Hated that bridge.
Jean Wilson
Shona Smith , Lorraine Rua
Jean Wilson
love that bridge went over it in a Railcar and Steam Train when learning to drive this bridge was easy.
Elaine Haggart
Wow what a grt photo.
Dianne Johnson
I remember waiting for the bridge attendant to raise the barrier after the train went through. Such good memories.
Jude Nicoll
I hated that bridge
Elaine Bolitho
Ah yes, I remember that!
Mary Morgan
Me as well MARLENE on a motor bike by car and in my youth on a push bike
Margi Adamson
Remember it well
Karin Carter
Been over that bridge - loved it
Janet Hogan
I remember Max Smith the bridge worker who closed the roads twice a day for the trains.
Marlene Jackson Perry
Yep travelled over it MANY times as a kid!
Alan Sheehan
Alan Jones (Lily) was a gate keeper there at one time back in the 70’s too I believe.
Paddy Wakefield
Alan Sheehan then the job became the Shunters as we went to hoki to shunt the train
Alan Sheehan
Paddy yep and was a sweet job back then if I remember right.
Lorraine O'Donoghue
One day a friend was driving me in her car across this bridge. The gate keeper slipped up that day and forgot to shut the gates and when we were about 1/4 of the way across a train appeared at the other end. My friend panicked and said she couldnt reve… See More
Sue McCallum
Gosh traveled that bridge many times was Horrid towing horse floats over it
Andrea Lowe
God I hated these bridges. I always thought a train was going to come behind us and run us over. It didn’t help that my mum said when she was learning to drive (she lived in Reefton) she skidded on the ice on one.
Janet Keats
Andrea Lowe my goodness.wouldn't have been nice in the perfect but dads big check was OK.
Shane Johnson
Lived in Cameron loved going over this bridge on my motorbike
Phyllis Aberhart
It's sad its gone. Years ago we followed it in am ambulance. I couldn't get a photo because I didn't have my camera with me, it was the days before cellphones
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart bridge is still there allthough its just for rail now.
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee .I saw it when I was down there earlier this month
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart did u enjoy the great new traffic bridge?
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee not really, because it's like dozens of others in the country
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart ok but i think most of us who live here really do enjoy it.
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee i lived on the Coast for about 12 years & used it quiet often I'd probably feel the same if I was sill there. It's probably nostalgia
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart
Brent Drummond
And drank at a pub called the Greyhound on a corner somewhere
Tom Jones
Brent Drummond different bridge, further south the Greyhound
Brent Drummond
I drove over that bridge as a youth
Arlene Hutcheon
I remember going over the bridge when I was young with my mum and dad, it was in one of our cars, a Mortis Oxford, I think. I always thought there would be a train meeting us on the other side!!!
Yvonne Lawson
My late Hubby lived in Kumara. Went over it quite a few times
Steph JF
Loved that bridgeAnne Allan
Use to hate driving over it !!!
Caroline Dunlop
Anne Allan Me too!!
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Sandra Hughes I have such a memory of Gran and I driving into Hokitika, Gran got too close to the side rails and ran up and over them and getting her wheel stuck on the other side. We were stuck good and proper and couldn’t move and had to call someone… See More
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes that was a common problem over the years.
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Lorraine O'Donoghue the memory is crystal clear, bless my Gran ♥️
Glad we were not the only ones! We certainly held the traffic up for awhile, while help came from Greymouth
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes I can just imagine the panic. I always hate that bridge and now I purr everytime I drive past it over the new bridge.
Sandra Hughes
Melanie Jayne Hughes lol yes gran could hardly see over the steering wheel in that car bless her.
Jill Foster
Melanie Jayne Hughes I remember Gran arriving at our house having had her car lifted off the rail of the bridge. Think it happened more than once. I always deaded driving over them. Blew a tyre crossing the Arahura one day, too busy looking at the whitebaiters in the river and the tyre hit the bolts on the rail. One of the Parker men came to my rescue and changed my trye.
Jan Menzies
Melanie Jayne Hughes haha gosh Mel the same thing happened while I was travelling to Hoki with Gran she was a shocker and used to ride the train tracks and would slip and slide and then lose control and I also have a vivid memory if ending up over the side rails. We were in the Beige Hillman Hunter haha the poor wee car obviously had a tough life!
Ron Finch
It's interesting that this bridge had the gates and was manned, but the Arahura Bridge on the same line did not and there was at least one fatal accident.
Phyllis Aberhart
Ron Finchthe Greymouth bridge didnt have gates or nanned for years before it was replaced
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Ron Finch that's right! Never thought about it before.
Lorraine O'Donoghue
I think they cut out manning the bridge when the rail services were cut back.
Brent Drummond
And drank at a pub called the Greyhound on a corner somewhere
Tom Jones
Brent Drummond different bridge, further south the Greyhound
Ann Bradley
Tom Jones That was the Arahura Bridge near the Greyhound Hotel.
Brent Drummond
Ann Bradley yes both new bridges are a great asset , it’s a great run from Greymouth to Hokitika that I do daily.
Neil Williams
It was tricky riding across it on a racing bike
Ann Bradley
Travelled over it may times. The ‘Under Repair’ sign was more or less permanent.
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Remember it well.
Marion Robina Hogarth
Going across that bridge on a motorbike was hair raising at times, had to avoid the rail tracks or it was ..slip sliding away !!!
Rick Lang
Love the sign , was a permanent fixture in one form or another
Dianne Smith
What a great photo
Jason Murly
And now its just a rail bridge since they built that new over head bridge
Colleen Todd
Used to drive with the horses and float over the bridge very scary
Dorothy Adams
For us in the 1970 s it was a new experience, from Auckland to the west coast, such a eye opener, GREYMOUTH to Ruanga, to Nelson, went down with 2 children went home with 5, 7 years later, I didn't want to leave, hubby couldn't stand the cold
Iri Sinclair
Love that bridge. The whitebaiters at the mouth of the Taramakau River called my husband Tamai Sinclair chief down on that awa. Tumeke!
Iri Sinclair
Also Coasters - sad to hear my old friend Andrew McCarthy of Runanga has passed away. He taught at John Paul II science for decades. A good bastard. An Englishman. Proud of his service on the West Coast Conservation Board. As we say in Poutini Ngai Tahu, a mighty totara has fallen! Aue! Aue! Aue! RIP Andrew
Iri Sinclair
Also Coasters - sad to hear my old friend Andrew McCarthy of Runanga has passed away. He taught at John Paul II science for decades. A good bastard. An Englishman. Proud of his service on the West Coast Conservation Board. As we say in Poutini Ngai Tahu, a mighty totara has fallen! Aue! Aue! Aue! RIP Andrew x
· Reply · 1h
Heather Newby
Admin
Iri Sinclair
Love that bridge. The whitebaiters at the mouth of the Taramakau River called my husband Tamai Sinclair chief down on that awa. Tumeke!
Dorothy Adams
For us in the 1970 s it was a new experience, from Auckland to the west coast, such a eye opener, GREYMOUTH to Ruanga, to Nelson, went down with 2 children went home with 5, 7 years later, I didn't want to leave, hubby couldn't stand the cold
Colleen Todd
Used to drive with the horses and float over the bridge very scary
Jason Murly
And now its just a rail bridge since they built that new over head bridge.
Clarice Hutt
Me too, Anne. Happy with the new bridge.
David Stuart
Seen a few motorbikes come 2 grief on the approach ova the years especially in the wet.
Lois McMillan
That was a bridge to remember haha great memories fabulous photo
Brydon Nimmo
Good times!! Love this bridge
Lynnette Walford
Been over there a few times ,many years ago.
Joy Leach
Remember it well!
Ann Walton
Remember it as well
Margaret Given
Remember that well. Going to Greymouth. Been across it many a time
Craig Adair
Lots of crashes if it was wet, for cyclists.
You could easily get caught in the middle of the lines and that’s ok until you to get to the end and have to go across. Haha
Murray Bradley
Well this was careless days and fuel shortage time.drove over it regularly
Jeff Louwman
learned to respect those railway lines in the wet on my motorcycle
Jock Allen
Sandblasted that bridge with Lyall Blanche and Jim Williams when Jack Mosely had the Buisiness
Jennie Scott
Lots of fun for non-coasters when they didn't understand how to straddle the lines. I remember trying to insist a friend did that but they wouldn't listen
John Paget
A mate of mine Kevin Smith raised the height of this bridge.
Kyle Webster
Lost a couple of exhaust pipes on those railway lines and my driveway around the corner towards Greymouth.
Sharon Malloch
Turn left at the end of the Taramakau Bridge & the Tramway Tavern is a very welcome sight
Monica Harvey
To think as a kid my sister and I would walk over that bridge to get out dad a flagon
Jeff Louwman
learned to respect those railway lines in the wet on my motorcycle
Lorraine O'Donoghue
The little shed on the left is where the rail worker spent his time in between cycling across the bridge to shut the gates at each end of the bridge when a train was due to cross the bridge
What was once just a "way of Life" for us ... the norm, has now become memories. How quickly Life flies by!
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Susan Barlow so True .what was yesterday has gone .but great memories. For us all .so blessed to be a coaster .and to have grown up on the coaster
Les Ellis
Travelled many times over the bridge, used to call into Pub on South end for a refreshment then onto Greymouth bird watching.
Linda Sara
I loved this bridge. The clickity click as it was driven over always fascinated me as a child. And the pub at the end for a raspberry lemonade lol
Marion E Mundy
Tarzmakau bridge
· Reply · 12m
Kathryn Ward
Loved waiting for the train to cross, and the man on his bike opening the gates
Pauline Matene
Taramakau bridge, my brother Dennis used to monitor that, he lived right next door to the bridge. They had not a bad Pub there too !!!
· Reply · 14m
Cheryl Ann Mockford
I always loved this bridge
Marq Sarchett
Yip this is how I remember it
Lisa Schimanski
Phillip Schimanski
Warner Nut Curry
A real grab and gotcha
Margaret Mckee
And the man who would get on his bike to close the gate at each end when the train was due. He had a hut on the greymouth end
Dale Felmingham
Margaret Mckee And the best vege garden on Coast and caught the most whitebait Apparently as long as he opened and closed bridge gates at right times could do what he wanted in-between
Dale Felmingham
Margaret Mckee I also thought he lived in the house on North side of bridge on right side of road heading south
Alan Messenger
I rode over there many times on a bike. Was hard to stay on one board and avoid your wheel being caught in between the boards. Then there was the problem of jumping the railway lines.
Maureen Burnett
I used to hate going over it!
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Fantastic photo . Remember it so well .
Jenny Leach
Driven over this bridge many a times going up to my mother in laws place
Colin Lawler
I remember when the rail way staff stopped the traffic when the trains were coming
David Lindsay
Taramakau bridge
Kyle Webster
Wedding photos on that bridge
Heather Gaulter
As I remember it
Alan Sheehan
Alan Jones (Lily) was a gate keeper there at one time back in the 70’s too I believe.
Caroline Dunlop
That one’s to remember!
Lynette Clunie
I use to love going over this bridge as a kid heading to Kumara to have lunch at the old McFarlans Hotel with nana Annie HainesDawn Harris
I remember that bridge
Leane Macleod
Anne McEnaney I remember Barney working on the bridge and I had flown down and jumped out of the car to surprise him
Anne McEnaney
Leane Macleod i can remember that Leane. We had some good laughs ovet that. The guys in the gang gave him hell. He just laughed and told them he couldn.t help being popular. I.ll show him this tomorrow. He.ll remember. Lovely times great memories xx
Mandy Jean Partleton
Anne McEnaney my Dad (Dick Downing) used to tell us similar stories when he did work on the bridge too. NZR days.
Anne McEnaney
Mandy Jean Partleton good old days. Great stories to be told. I remember Dick so well. Barney was training the fire brigade waterways running team. Came home tp get something. The fire engine outside our place. Dick jumped out hose under his arm ran up… See More
Leane Macleod
Anne McEnaney give him my love and tell him I hope to be fine this year to see him
Anne McEnaney
Leane Macleod will do. Be great to see you. Xxx
Jacinda Te Rata Moran
I loved crossing this bridge for the first time with my son and partner on a road trip to my father inlaws home in Greymouth
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Sandra Hughes I have such a memory of Gran and I driving into Hokitika, Gran got too close to the side rails and ran up and over them and getting her wheel stuck on the other side. We were stuck good and proper and couldn’t move and had to call someone to come get us out
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes that was a common problem over the years.
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Lorraine O'Donoghue the memory is crystal clear, bless my Gran
Glad we were not the only ones! We certainly held the traffic up for awhile, while help came from Greymouth
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes I can just imagine the panic. I always hate that bridge and now I purr everytime I drive past it over the new bridge.
Sandra Hughes
Melanie Jayne Hughes lol yes gran could hardly see over the steering wheel in that car bless her.
Jill Foster
Melanie Jayne Hughes I remember Gran arriving at our house having had her car lifted off the rail of the bridge. Think it happened more than once. I always deaded driving over them. Blew a tyre crossing the Arahura one day, too busy looking at the w… See More
Val N Merv Brittain
I think I have been over that bridge
Pauline Matene
Taramakau bridge, my brother Dennis used to monitor that, he lived right next door to the bridge. They had not a bad Pub there too !!!
· Reply · 12h
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Pauline Matene did ya ring that Bell .
Pauline Matene
No love got locked in the loo
David Barry Grant
Pauline Matene I think Olive Mitchell Had that pub those days----spent a bit of time there!!
Anne Miller Mcmillan
David Barry Grant yip she
Helen Willis
Hated that bridge.
Jean Wilson
Shona Smith , Lorraine Rua
Jean Wilson
love that bridge went over it in a Railcar and Steam Train when learning to drive this bridge was easy.
Elaine Haggart
Wow what a grt photo.
Dianne Johnson
I remember waiting for the bridge attendant to raise the barrier after the train went through. Such good memories.
Jude Nicoll
I hated that bridge
Elaine Bolitho
Ah yes, I remember that!
Mary Morgan
Me as well MARLENE on a motor bike by car and in my youth on a push bike
Margi Adamson
Remember it well
Karin Carter
Been over that bridge - loved it
Janet Hogan
I remember Max Smith the bridge worker who closed the roads twice a day for the trains.
Marlene Jackson Perry
Yep travelled over it MANY times as a kid!
Alan Sheehan
Alan Jones (Lily) was a gate keeper there at one time back in the 70’s too I believe.
Paddy Wakefield
Alan Sheehan then the job became the Shunters as we went to hoki to shunt the train
Alan Sheehan
Paddy yep and was a sweet job back then if I remember right.
Lorraine O'Donoghue
One day a friend was driving me in her car across this bridge. The gate keeper slipped up that day and forgot to shut the gates and when we were about 1/4 of the way across a train appeared at the other end. My friend panicked and said she couldnt reve… See More
Sue McCallum
Gosh traveled that bridge many times was Horrid towing horse floats over it
Andrea Lowe
God I hated these bridges. I always thought a train was going to come behind us and run us over. It didn’t help that my mum said when she was learning to drive (she lived in Reefton) she skidded on the ice on one.
Janet Keats
Andrea Lowe my goodness.wouldn't have been nice in the perfect but dads big check was OK.
Shane Johnson
Lived in Cameron loved going over this bridge on my motorbike
Phyllis Aberhart
It's sad its gone. Years ago we followed it in am ambulance. I couldn't get a photo because I didn't have my camera with me, it was the days before cellphones
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart bridge is still there allthough its just for rail now.
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee .I saw it when I was down there earlier this month
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart did u enjoy the great new traffic bridge?
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee not really, because it's like dozens of others in the country
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart ok but i think most of us who live here really do enjoy it.
Phyllis Aberhart
Harold Lee i lived on the Coast for about 12 years & used it quiet often I'd probably feel the same if I was sill there. It's probably nostalgia
Harold Lee
Phyllis Aberhart
Brent Drummond
And drank at a pub called the Greyhound on a corner somewhere
Tom Jones
Brent Drummond different bridge, further south the Greyhound
Brent Drummond
I drove over that bridge as a youth
Arlene Hutcheon
I remember going over the bridge when I was young with my mum and dad, it was in one of our cars, a Mortis Oxford, I think. I always thought there would be a train meeting us on the other side!!!
Yvonne Lawson
My late Hubby lived in Kumara. Went over it quite a few times
Steph JF
Loved that bridgeAnne Allan
Use to hate driving over it !!!
Caroline Dunlop
Anne Allan Me too!!
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Sandra Hughes I have such a memory of Gran and I driving into Hokitika, Gran got too close to the side rails and ran up and over them and getting her wheel stuck on the other side. We were stuck good and proper and couldn’t move and had to call someone… See More
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes that was a common problem over the years.
Melanie Jayne Hughes
Lorraine O'Donoghue the memory is crystal clear, bless my Gran ♥️
Glad we were not the only ones! We certainly held the traffic up for awhile, while help came from Greymouth
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Melanie Jayne Hughes I can just imagine the panic. I always hate that bridge and now I purr everytime I drive past it over the new bridge.
Sandra Hughes
Melanie Jayne Hughes lol yes gran could hardly see over the steering wheel in that car bless her.
Jill Foster
Melanie Jayne Hughes I remember Gran arriving at our house having had her car lifted off the rail of the bridge. Think it happened more than once. I always deaded driving over them. Blew a tyre crossing the Arahura one day, too busy looking at the whitebaiters in the river and the tyre hit the bolts on the rail. One of the Parker men came to my rescue and changed my trye.
Jan Menzies
Melanie Jayne Hughes haha gosh Mel the same thing happened while I was travelling to Hoki with Gran she was a shocker and used to ride the train tracks and would slip and slide and then lose control and I also have a vivid memory if ending up over the side rails. We were in the Beige Hillman Hunter haha the poor wee car obviously had a tough life!
Ron Finch
It's interesting that this bridge had the gates and was manned, but the Arahura Bridge on the same line did not and there was at least one fatal accident.
Phyllis Aberhart
Ron Finchthe Greymouth bridge didnt have gates or nanned for years before it was replaced
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Ron Finch that's right! Never thought about it before.
Lorraine O'Donoghue
I think they cut out manning the bridge when the rail services were cut back.
Brent Drummond
And drank at a pub called the Greyhound on a corner somewhere
Tom Jones
Brent Drummond different bridge, further south the Greyhound
Ann Bradley
Tom Jones That was the Arahura Bridge near the Greyhound Hotel.
Brent Drummond
Ann Bradley yes both new bridges are a great asset , it’s a great run from Greymouth to Hokitika that I do daily.
Neil Williams
It was tricky riding across it on a racing bike
Ann Bradley
Travelled over it may times. The ‘Under Repair’ sign was more or less permanent.
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Remember it well.
Marion Robina Hogarth
Going across that bridge on a motorbike was hair raising at times, had to avoid the rail tracks or it was ..slip sliding away !!!
Rick Lang
Love the sign , was a permanent fixture in one form or another
Dianne Smith
What a great photo
Jason Murly
And now its just a rail bridge since they built that new over head bridge
Colleen Todd
Used to drive with the horses and float over the bridge very scary
Dorothy Adams
For us in the 1970 s it was a new experience, from Auckland to the west coast, such a eye opener, GREYMOUTH to Ruanga, to Nelson, went down with 2 children went home with 5, 7 years later, I didn't want to leave, hubby couldn't stand the cold
Iri Sinclair
Love that bridge. The whitebaiters at the mouth of the Taramakau River called my husband Tamai Sinclair chief down on that awa. Tumeke!
Iri Sinclair
Also Coasters - sad to hear my old friend Andrew McCarthy of Runanga has passed away. He taught at John Paul II science for decades. A good bastard. An Englishman. Proud of his service on the West Coast Conservation Board. As we say in Poutini Ngai Tahu, a mighty totara has fallen! Aue! Aue! Aue! RIP Andrew
Iri Sinclair
Also Coasters - sad to hear my old friend Andrew McCarthy of Runanga has passed away. He taught at John Paul II science for decades. A good bastard. An Englishman. Proud of his service on the West Coast Conservation Board. As we say in Poutini Ngai Tahu, a mighty totara has fallen! Aue! Aue! Aue! RIP Andrew x
· Reply · 1h
Heather Newby
Admin
Iri Sinclair
Love that bridge. The whitebaiters at the mouth of the Taramakau River called my husband Tamai Sinclair chief down on that awa. Tumeke!
Dorothy Adams
For us in the 1970 s it was a new experience, from Auckland to the west coast, such a eye opener, GREYMOUTH to Ruanga, to Nelson, went down with 2 children went home with 5, 7 years later, I didn't want to leave, hubby couldn't stand the cold
Colleen Todd
Used to drive with the horses and float over the bridge very scary
Jason Murly
And now its just a rail bridge since they built that new over head bridge.
Clarice Hutt
Me too, Anne. Happy with the new bridge.
David Stuart
Seen a few motorbikes come 2 grief on the approach ova the years especially in the wet.
Lois McMillan
That was a bridge to remember haha great memories fabulous photo
Brydon Nimmo
Good times!! Love this bridge
Lynnette Walford
Been over there a few times ,many years ago.
Joy Leach
Remember it well!
Ann Walton
Remember it as well
Margaret Given
Remember that well. Going to Greymouth. Been across it many a time
Craig Adair
Lots of crashes if it was wet, for cyclists.
You could easily get caught in the middle of the lines and that’s ok until you to get to the end and have to go across. Haha
Murray Bradley
Well this was careless days and fuel shortage time.drove over it regularly
Jeff Louwman
learned to respect those railway lines in the wet on my motorcycle
Jock Allen
Sandblasted that bridge with Lyall Blanche and Jim Williams when Jack Mosely had the Buisiness
Jennie Scott
Lots of fun for non-coasters when they didn't understand how to straddle the lines. I remember trying to insist a friend did that but they wouldn't listen
John Paget
A mate of mine Kevin Smith raised the height of this bridge.
Kyle Webster
Lost a couple of exhaust pipes on those railway lines and my driveway around the corner towards Greymouth.
Sharon Malloch
Turn left at the end of the Taramakau Bridge & the Tramway Tavern is a very welcome sight
Monica Harvey
To think as a kid my sister and I would walk over that bridge to get out dad a flagon
Jeff Louwman
learned to respect those railway lines in the wet on my motorcycle
Lorraine O'Donoghue
The little shed on the left is where the rail worker spent his time in between cycling across the bridge to shut the gates at each end of the bridge when a train was due to cross the bridge
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West Coast New Zealand History (21st Aug 2024). Taramakau Rail and Road Bridge .1979.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 11th Apr 2026 13:30, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/29092