Ohakune Railway Museum was opened to the public in February 2010, to recognise the importance of Ohakune during the construction of the Main Trunk Railway which opened in 1908.
A very significant event for us was the Tangiwai disaster, 15 kms south of Ohakune, where 151 people died on Christmas Eve 1953. We have a display and diorama interpreting the event, and some historic artefacts from the site.
The Museum is owned by Main Trunk Rail Ohakune group. (MTRO) and run by volunteers to preserve the history of the Railways in this area. The exhibits show the day to day operations of the railways in NZ from 1900 to the 1950's.