Makatote Viaduct
Makatote viaduct | |
|---|---|
Makatote Viaduct in 2022 | |
| Coordinates | 39°15′57″S 175°23′24″E / 39.2658°S 175.3899°E |
| Carries | Single track of the North Island Main Trunk |
| Crosses | Makatote River |
| Owner | KiwiRail |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Plate girder and Pratt truss |
| Material | Mild steel |
| Total length | 262 metres (860 ft) |
| Height | 79 metres (259 ft) |
| No. of spans | 10 |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | PWD |
| Constructed by | J. & A. Anderson & Co |
| Construction start | 1905 |
| Construction end | 10 July 1908 |
| Opened | 6 November 1908 |
| Designated | 20 February 2009 |
| Reference no. | 7778 |
| Location | |
The Makatote Viaduct (Bridge 179) takes the North Island Main Trunk railway (NIMT) across the Makatote River in New Zealand. It is 335.7 km (208.6 mi) from Wellington, at the foot of Ruapehu, in northern Manawatū-Whanganui (central North Island), between Erua and Pokaka.
It was built between 1905 and 1908 for the Public Works Department (PWD), who passed it to New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) in 1909.
When built it was tallest, and is now the third tallest, viaduct in New Zealand, the higher ones being the 1981 North Rangitikei 81 metres (266 ft), further south on the NIMT, and 1937 Mohaka viaduct 95 metres (312 ft), on the Gisborne line.