Back in 1915 over 2000 people packed the station and sprawled over the tracks for the official opening and 100 years on a re-enactment took place, albeit with less people.

Wauchope was the end of the line back in the day, finishing off a trip that went through many coastal towns.

The timber industry was the biggest beneficiary in those times, with hauls of logs able to be carted by train overnight instead of spending two or three days on a cargo ship.

It was also beneficial for the farming industry and of course for people wanting to travel, given the short distance from Wauchope to the holiday town of Port Macquarie.

George Hagarty, media manager of Centenary of Rail, spoke of the significance the railway line had to the people of Wauchope both then and now.

“All of a sudden Wauchope people became connected to the coast. It was also a boost for Port as a tourist destination,” he said. “The people in charge of the railway fought for many years with the government to get the line going.

“In 1895 they were told that Wauchope was not capable of a profitable development.”

However in the end they got their wish - for a small cost of £528,000. As the re-enactment took place it was a step back in time, particularly for Dawn Olsen who played Mrs Griffiths, the wife of the 1915 minister of works.

She not only cut the ribbon this week at the 100th anniversary, but did so in the same role 50 years prior at the 50th anniversary.

Another in attendance was 93 year old life-long resident Leo Munday who worked in the timber and farming industries himself and benefited greatly from the railway.

“It was certainly very significant for the town. It was the centre of the timber and farming industry for the area,” he said. “I couldn’t have worked without the train. I used it for the timber logs, getting it out of the bush and transporting it away to other towns.”

The train line is now used by thousands of people to travel up and down the coast, including regular trips to Sydney in which Mr Munday would often take his family.

“Back then it would take 12 hours so we would just sleep on the train,” he said.