‘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.

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.

Construction starts on Rail Vehicle Shed

Construction is well under way on the Trust’s Rail Vehicle Shed at Maymorn. The first four steel portals were lifted into place on Saturday 23 August. Excavation of foundations commenced in late May, and the first concrete was poured on 6 June. Visit the Maymorn Rail Vehicle Shed Flickr Set for the latest photos.

The first four portals for the shed were craned into position by Hammond Crane and Cartage (Upper Hutt) on Saturday 23 August, 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.

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.)

Newsletter 21

News from the Trust dated June 2008.

We report on our recent success in gaining a Resource Consent for rail heritage structures, earthworks and rail activities at Maymorn, which paves the way for construction to commence on the rail vehicle shed.

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.