Nelson Section

The Nelson Section as its name implies, remained an isolated section its whole life. With construction starting in April 1873 on the Nelson Foxhill section, it envisaged a great future with the prospect of linking up with Greymouth and Christchurch via a promised Midland Railway. Construction progress was slow with ultimately 64 miles (just over 100km) constructed over some 50 years. When all construction ceased in 1930, a gap of only a 42 mile (67km) existed in order to connect with Inangahua, the railhead from Christchurch at the time.