Hailed the finest survivor of its line by the Rail Heritage Trust, the Blenheim Railway Station is a wooden ornate railway station building designed by George Troup, the architect of many other railway buildings around the country. It was built in the early 1900s as part of a series of vintage stations built from 1900-1908 and was sited right next to the road until in the year 2000 the main truck rail line moved to its present position and the station was relocated to its present site.

As the years have passed the building condition had continued to fall and with the risk of earthquakes becoming a more pressing concern with the Canterbury earthquakes, the station has undergone extensive strengthening and a full repaint inside and out. The interior is now repainted in Environmental Choice approved Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

Outside the colour palette reflects age appropriate colours, in keeping with the building’s Historic Places Trust protection. Walls are finished in Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne tinted to Resene Double Delta (grey oxide), trim in Resene Concrete (frosted grey) with striking red Resene Nelson Red (colonial red) on doors. Resene Uracryl 402 is used on the steelwork for a durable protective finish and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel on woodwork.

The semi-gloss finish of Resene Sonyx 101 and Resene Lustacryl are more sympathetic to the age of the building and substrate than higher gloss finishes would be, but are easier to keep clean than lower sheen finishes, making them an excellent choice for older buildings.

Now restored back to her former glory and tougher than ever, this station waits for a new business to jump on board and fill its walls.

Architectural Specifier: Simon Hardy,
Studio of Pacific Architecture
Building Contractor: Haack Construction
Painting Contractor: Hutchison & Price
Resene: Bryan Newman, Trade Sales Representative
From the Resene News – issue 3/2012