In May 2002, Department of Conservation historians Paul Mahoney and David Veart were shown the lower Ohakune section of the road.
They confirmed that beneath the grass and dirt covering the road surface, were cobblestones.
They were impressed by the overall quality of the road formation, the small cuttings, the consistent gradient and the drainage system.
Why was such a top quality road built here in the bush?
Who built it, when, and why cobblestones?
They suggested searching government records to find the factual history of the road.
Errol Vincent agreed to undertake this research, with support from Bob Norling, an ex-railway technician and President of Main Trunk Rail Ohakune Inc.
In November 2002, the search began by looking at the government AJHR records held in the Hamilton Public Library.
The AJHR's (Appendices to the House of Representatives) are the records of various government departments reporting progress and activities to parliament.
The Skyline Section of the road was explored in March, 2003. Most of the road was overgrown, its route through the bush not clearly obvious, and the only way through some parts was to crawl.
A old ski pole was used to probe for cobbles on the road's surface, thereby letting me know if we were still on the road as we scrambled through the bush.
A few days later we explored the Taonui section.
With the full length of the road between Ohakune and Horopito explored, and sufficient official written information found about the road's history, submissions were made to New Zealand Historic Places Trust and to the Tongariro National Park Board.
In June 2003, further research, funded by Department of Conservation, Historic Places Trust and Main Trunk Rail Ohakune Inc, was continued at New Zealand Archives and Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.
