1937, the wharf was removed. Today The Gull Roost bridge no longer exists, but some of the track has been converted into a public walking track, the Waimahanga Walkway. It includes footbridges over two creeks using the former railway bridge piers. Some formation not used by the walkway is also visible. Similar proposals In the 1970s, two proposals to build a similar branch line from Whangārei to a deepwater port were made. This line was to closely follow the route of a much earlier proposed line that was nearly built. In 1914, a railway was surveyed to run south from Whangārei to Waipu, and although World War I delayed the start of any work, the construction of formation was in progress in 1920. However, in 1924, construction was abandoned without any track being laid as road transport was beginning to compete with rail and an insignificant branch to serve local farming interests was no longer seen as necessary. Many years later, a deepwater harbour was established at nearby Marsden Point as an oil port, and after the 1973 oil crisis it was proposed to convert the nearby Marsden B Power Station to use coal from the Waikato. The railways have always carried significant tonnages of Waikato coal, and this proposal would have certainly required a railway link had it come to fruition. In 1979 it was suggested that Marsden Point could be used for forestry export, and a 14-kilometre branch from the North Auckland Line was proposed, but it was not built. In 2007, however, the proposal was revived, and the Northland Regional Council is currently negotiating land purchases that would allow the link to be constructed. See also North Auckland Line Dargaville Branch Donnellys Crossing Section/Branch Marsden Point Branch Ōkaihau Branch Opua Branch References Citations Bibliography Further reading Hermann, Bruce J; North Island Branch Lines p 5 (2007, New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, Wellington) Railway lines in New Zealand Whangārei Rail transport in the Northland Region Railway lines opened in 1911 Railway lines closed in 1933 1911 establishments in New Zealand Closed railway lines in New Zealand