‘Building a Sanctuary for Steam’

Heritage Railway Project

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust aims to reinstate and operate a world-class heritage railway between Wellington and the Wairarapa. The Railway will be a unique tourist attraction for Wellington and New Zealand, and a major contributor to the regional economy.

Rail Licence gained

On 26 June 2009 the New Zealand Transport Agency approved the Trust’s rail safety case and granted a full licence. Receipt of the full licence is another milestone in the development of the Rimutaka Incline Railway.
29 June 2009.

Rail Licence ORA 05-04-70 [54 KB PDF ]

Newsletter 23

News from the Trust dated May 2009.

We report on substantial progress made with the rail vehicle shed over past months, with all portals in place, girts and purlins installed, and 90% of the roof cladding complete.

Rail Vehicle Shed Construction

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Construction of the Trust’s Rail Vehicle Shed at Maymorn is at an advanced stage, with all roofing steel installed on 27 June 2009. Excavation of foundations commenced in late May 2008, the first concrete poured on 6 June 2008 and first portal frames craned into place on 23 August 2008. Visit the Maymorn Rail Vehicle Shed Flickr Set for the latest photos.

On 27 June 2009 the last sheet was installed on the northern end of the shed roof. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

By 8 March 2009 the south end of the shed had been clad, barge boards and soffits fitted out. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

Alex, Ben and Colin working on #1 portal

Alex, Ben and Colin working on the last steel portal, which was lifted into place on Friday 12 December 2008. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

The first four portals for the shed were craned into position by Hammond Crane and Cartage (Upper Hutt) on Saturday 23 August 2008, marking another milestone in the rail vehicle shed project. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

Foundation work is well advanced for the Rail Vehicle Shed, as seen on Saturday 5 July with Trust members and friends placing concrete into wall form work. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

Foundation stone ceremony 6 September

Hon Paul Swain unveils foundation stone.

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust celebrated the start of construction of its Rail Vehicle Shed with a foundation stone ceremony on the 6th September 2008. The stone was unveiled by The Honourable Paul Swain, Member of Parliament for Rimutaka. Photo: Frances Braddick.

impression of rail vehicle shed under construction at Maymorn.

On 24 April 2008 the Upper Hutt City Council granted the Trust’s Resource Consent application to establish a heritage railway precinct at Maymorn railway station — the proposed future operational base of the Rimutaka Incline Railway. Illustrated here is an impression of the future rail vehicle shed superimposed on a recent image of the site. Construction work has now commenced on the shed. Image: Hugh McCracken.

Fell locomotive H 204 heads a train on the Rimutaka Incline

(Portion of brochure, which is based on a photo by Derek Cross, NZRLS Collection.)

Interim rail service licence granted

On Friday 21 September 2007 Land Transport New Zealand granted the Trust an interim rail service licence as an access provider and rail operator in order to carry out rail activities at Maymorn.

Granting of a Rail Service Licence marks a turning point for the Rimutaka Incline Railway, and the Trust looks forward to operating its first rail service out of Maymorn, the next step towards creating a heritage railway through to Kaitoke and Summit.