In 1906 the administrative office of the northern section of the Public Works Department (PWD) which was building the NIMT was moved to a group of "tents and huts" at Raurimu, and at its zenith the Raurimu community numbered a thousand men, women and children.[2]
Trains started running to Raurimu from 13 December 1906.[3] From 10 May 1907 goods were carried to Raurimu by rail.[4] Trains started running to the next station at Waimarino (National Park) from 23 December 1907.[5] The NIMT was opened to through Auckland to Wellington trains from 9 November 1908,[6] though only southbound expresses stopped at Raurimu.[7]
A 51 feet (16m) by 14 feet (4.3m)5th class station was built in 1906, with stationmaster's, lobby, and ladies rooms, a 200 feet (61m) by 20 feet (6.1m) platform, loading bank, cattle yards, 30 feet (9.1m) by 20 feet (6.1m) goods shed with verandah, privies, urinals, water tanks and passing loop for 58 wagons.[4]
Raurimu closed to passengers before December 1975,[1]
The settlement of Raurimu in the early 20th century had two bush tramways for forestry; Knight's tram, Raurimu of the Raumiru Sawmilling Co (1935-1957) and a tramway of the Pokata Timber Co (1930-1957).
Knight's tram and a steam hauler, Raurimu, in a clearing in the bush
Price type "O" bush locomotive at Raurimu, ca. 1917
Offices of the Tamaki Sawmill Co. at Raurimu railway station