What carriages will be used?
Conventional carriage types were hauled over the Rimutaka Incline, ranging from 4 and 6-wheel carriages used in the early years, to clerestory and gallery carriages, and the widely used 47.5’ and 50’ Scarrett and turtleback wooden carriages. 50’ and 56’ steel carriages were also used over the incline on the occasion of diverted Main Trunk expresses and the 1954 Royal Tour.
The Trust has acquired 8 carriages of types that were used on the route, which are stored at Maymorn. Work required to restore to operational service range from complete rebuild through to heavy overhaul.
However, the railway initially requires operational carriages and leases will be the most effective way of enabling the railway to operate as soon as the rail infrastructure is commissioned.