Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust


The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust is a non-profit, charitable trust in New Zealand that was established in 2003 with the objective of reinstating an operating heritage railway over the Rimutaka Ranges using the original route of the Wairarapa Line between Maymorn and Featherston, including the world-famous Rimutaka Incline.

Foundation and objectives

The trust was formed by a steering committee that had earlier been established to investigate the proposal, and was composed mainly of members from existing rail heritage organisations.
It was established with the goal of realising the following objectives:
  1. To plan, fund, reinstate and operate a tourist heritage railway on former railway route between Upper Hutt and Featherston, and any other directly or indirectly connected railway;
  2. Acquire by agreement, lease or purchase such lands as are required to allow the reinstatement of the former railway route between Upper Hutt and Featherston and any other such lands as will further the objectives of the Trust;
  3. Acquire by agreement, lease or purchase such items of railway rolling stock, tools and material to facilitate the construction and operation of the tourist heritage railway;
  4. Raise funds for and facilitate the conservation and protection of the former railway route and heritage structures and features thereon;
  5. To plan, fund and construct appropriate buildings, structures, infrastructure and facilities to facilitate the construction and operation of the tourist heritage railway;
  6. To arrange interpretative displays for the public, to promote knowledge and education of heritage railways, and in particular the Rimutaka Incline Railway, the historic factors that led to its creation and raise awareness of the personalities involved;
  7. Facilitate research, discussion, education and interchange of information on topics related to the Rimutaka Incline Railway and environs.

    Timeline

Facilities and equipment

Rail vehicle shed

The main rail vehicle shed is currently under construction nearing completion with a workshop annex having been completed

Locomotives

Parts for NZR WB class locomotives 292 & 299 have been acquired by the Trust with plans to eventually restore them to working order.
NZR TR class No. 937 Diesel shunting locomotive has been acquired from KiwiRail and, having been restored, is used for shunting and construction duties.
NZR AB class No.745 North British built Pacific locomotive, makers No. 22880 of 1922. The locomotive was involved in a washout accident on 16 July 1956 and plummeted 50 feet, while hauling a full load of freight from Wanganui to New Plymouth. Both crew survived. Too expensive to recover it remained in situ built into the embankment at Hawera. The engine lay undisturbed until November 2001, when it was purchased for $1 by the Hootsville Charitable Trust, and in 2002 salvage work began after 46 years underground. The raised wreck minus tender was taken to Waitara. In 2007, The Taranaki Flyer Society Inc.. was formed and AB745 was transported to its new home at the old railway goods shed at Stratford, where it was being restored. Lack of funds and the loss of the Stratford old railway goods shed led to the Society asking for expressions of interest in the locomotive. The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust's proposal was accepted and it was moved to Maymorn in October 2013.
Two replica NZR H class "Fell" locomotives will be commissioned by the Trust to operate the incline section of their line for stage 3 of the project.

Wagons

The Trust has acquired 13 YC-class ballast wagons and 2 Q-class coal hopper wagons, currently located at their Maymorn site, and plans to use them in the construction of its line and for ongoing track maintenance.

Carriages

The Trust's fleet includes five NZR 56-foot carriages and one NZR 50-foot carriage. These vehicles will be restored after the rail vehicle shed is completed.

Maymorn station

A heritage-themed station based on the Troup-era Waimate station has been proposed for the Maymorn site. It was hoped to have this building completed by 2015, but this has not occurred.

Track

Two tracks have been laid east of the rail vehicle shed which are currently being used for vehicle storage. Tracks are also being laid in the rail vehicle shed as part of the construction of the shed's floor and inspection pits.
Two potential routes have been identified to connect the Trust's operation at the Maymorn site to the original railway formation.

Rolling Stock

NZR Steam locomotives

Original Class and NumberBuilderBuilders NumberYear BuiltArrivedNotes-
AB 745North British2288030 October 2013Entered NZR service in July 1922. Derailed at Hawera on 16 July 1956, but wasn't withdrawn until January 1957. It was recovered tenderless on 11 November 2001 by Tony Batchelor and Keith Hancock. In 2007 it was then fully purchased by Keith. In 2010 it was sold to The Taranaki Flyer Society. In 2013 it was sold to the trust for free and moved to the railway over five days. It arrived on 30 October 2013 and awaits restoration.-
WB 292Baldwin Locomotive Works1617231 August 2008Entered NZR service in January 1899. Withdrawn on 5 January 1957 and stored at Westport. In 1960 it was dumped into the Mōkihinui River. It was recovered by Hugh McCracken and stored at the Silver Stream Railway in 1989. It was then moved to Steam Incorporateds Paekakariki depot in 1995. It was moved to the railway in 2008 and awaits restoration.-
WB 299Baldwin Locomotive Works1617531 August 2008Entered NZR service on 22 May 1899. Withdrawn on 5 January 1957 and stored at Westport. In 1960 it was dumped into the Mōkihinui River. It was recovered by Hugh McCracken and stored at the Silver Stream Railway in 1989. It was then moved to Steam Incorporateds Paekakariki depot in 1995. It was moved to the railway in 2008. Restoration commenced in 2014.
WD 356Baldwin Locomotive Works-

NZR Diesel locomotives

Original Class and NumberTMS Class and NumberBuilderBuilders NumberYear BuiltArrivedNotes
TR 189937NZR Hillside Workshops45630 July 2010Entered NZR service in September 1976 for shunting duties. Renumbered as TR 937 in 1978. Withdrawn in July 2010 and sold to the railway. Arrived on 30 July in that year. It was restored on 4 March 2013.

Industrial Diesel Locomotives

TypeBuilderBuilders NumberYear BuiltArrivedNotes
DrewryDrewry Car Co.224821 October 2014Entered service for the Ohai Railway Boad in 1947. Used until 1968 and sold to the State Coal Mines in Kaitangata. Then to State Coal Mines in Rotowaro in 1974. Purchased by Bruce McLuckie in 1986 and moved to the Bush Tramway Club. Restoration commenced at a slow pace. In 2014 it was sold to the trust and arrived at the railway on 21 October in that month.

Project

The trust proposes to progressively reinstate and operate the railway between Maymorn and Featherston in four stages, including: