▁parc els ▁traffic ▁was ▁almost ▁non - ex istent . ▁ ▁The ▁Department ▁con cur red ▁with ▁the ▁recommendation ▁and ▁closed ▁the ▁station ▁to ▁all ▁except ▁goods ▁in ▁w agon ▁lots ▁from ▁Monday ▁ 9 ▁June ▁ 1 9 6 9 . ▁ ▁Despite ▁being ▁closed ▁to ▁regular ▁passenger ▁traffic , ▁provision ▁was ▁made ▁for ▁continued ▁use ▁of ▁the ▁station ▁for ▁special ▁trains ▁on ▁race ▁days . ▁ ▁These ▁trains , ▁run ▁from ▁Well ington ▁to ▁a ▁temporary ▁stopping ▁place ▁south ▁of ▁Op aki ▁station , ▁brought ▁in ▁pat rons ▁for ▁race ▁meet ings ▁of ▁the ▁Master ton ▁Racing ▁Club ▁at ▁Op aki ▁Race course ▁held ▁in ▁May , ▁October , ▁and ▁December ▁of ▁each ▁year . ▁ ▁After ▁dis emb ark ing ▁the ▁passengers , ▁the ▁trains ▁were ▁run ▁empty ▁to ▁Op aki ▁where ▁the ▁loop ▁was ▁used ▁to ▁run ▁the ▁locomot ive ▁around ▁the ▁train ▁in ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁the ▁return ▁journey . ▁ ▁Use ▁of ▁the ▁station ▁continued ▁to ▁decl ine ▁and ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁it ▁was ▁recommended ▁that ▁it ▁be ▁closed ▁completely . ▁ ▁A ▁traffic ▁return ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 2 ▁months ▁ended ▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁showed ▁that ▁ 3 6 ▁head ▁of ▁cattle ▁and ▁ 1 3 7 ▁head ▁of ▁sheep ▁were ▁cons igned ▁out ▁from ▁the ▁station ▁and ▁ 1 0 ▁ton ▁of ▁fert il iser , ▁ 2 4 ▁ton ▁of ▁gra in , ▁and ▁ 1 5 ▁ton ▁of ▁stock fo od ▁were ▁received