In this issue:

Launch of the Rimutaka Incline Railway

On 29 October the Trust will celebrate the official beginning of the Rimutaka Incline Railway at Maymorn. It will be preceded by an exhibition at Expressions, Upper Hutt, celebrating both the launch and the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Rimutaka Incline and associated opening of the Rimutaka Deviation.

Chairperson’s report

Chairperson’ report for the 2004-2005 financial year.

Maymorn progress

Photos of recent developments at Maymorn.

Reflections on U.K. heritage railways.

Trustee Glenn Fitzgerald reflects on his recent trip to the U.K..

Upcoming events | Contacts | Electronic Copy

Launch of the Rimutaka Incline Railway

“Rimutaka Incline 50 years on” exhibition

Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt, 22 – 28 October 2005

An exhibition of photographs, memorabilia of the Rimutaka Incline route and the Rimutaka Deviation from October 1955, plus displays and information on the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust’s plans to reinstate a heritage railway between Upper Hutt, Kaitoke, Summit and beyond. The exhibition will be located in the Rotary Foyer, Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt, from Saturday 22 October (Labour Weekend) through to Friday 28 October.

For more information about the exhibition email: enquiries@rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz.

“50 since the 50s” Cocktail Evening

Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt, Friday 28 October 2005

Come and celebrate 50 years since the 1950s with the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust! Jazz musician, cocktails, and memorabilia are planned — travel back in time to the 1950s with the Rimutaka Incline Railway!

For more information about the cocktail evening email: enquiries@rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz.

Chairperson’s report

The following is the Chairperson’s report from the Trust’s Annual report 2004-2005 (available on the Trust’s website)

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust was established in 2003 with the vision to reinstate a railway over the Rimutaka Range — a heritage railway that will be an internationally significant tourist attraction in its own right. The Wellington Region will benefit greatly from the addition of such an authentic cultural heritage attraction. Recognising the potential of the attraction, the Upper Hutt City Council has included the project as a no-cost partnership in its Long-Term Council Community Plan.

As the 2004-2005 year drew to a close, two years of planning and consultation were about to bear fruit — securing a long-term licence to occupy railway land at Maymorn, 6km northeast of Upper Hutt. The Trust plans to develop a railway heritage precinct at Maymorn, which will form the operational base for heritage train operations between Upper Hutt and Summit. A heritage station building is also planned, faithfully replicating an early 20th Century design of former NZR designer George Troup. An information and discovery centre will be housed within the station building, enhancing educational outcomes for the Trust.

The Trust has been participating in the Upper Hutt community, educating the public of its vision to establish a heritage railway between Upper Hutt and southern Wairarapa. It has also educated the public about the significance of the former railway route, and in particular the unique Fell-worked Rimutaka Incline. By having a presence at public events in Upper Hutt and the wider Wellington Region, the Trust has also been able to consult with the public on its plans, and to learn what uses the Pakuratahi Forest land has been put to in the half-century since the line was closed.

Membership of the Trust has grown at a steady rate since it was first available in December 2003, and at the end of the financial year there were approaching 50 members, both individual and corporate. The Internet has been used to deliver information to members, stakeholders and the public in general, including newsletters, press releases, and research topics. The information is distributed to a community much wider than the immediate membership — newsletters are sent to twice as many stakeholders as the Trust has members, prior to publication on the Trust’s website for general consumption.

In December 2004 the Trust welcomed Colin Craddock onto the Board of Trustees, increasing the number from six to seven. Colin brings with him a wealth of steam railway experience from Zimbabwe, complemented by hard-working, dependable attributes that have strengthened the work of the other Trustees.

A great deal of planning work has gone on behind the scenes during the year. One of the highlights of the year was the completion of the Business Plan for 2004-2008, a comprehensive document detailing outcomes, strategies and milestones for a staged development of the heritage railway. The Trust has presented the plan to major stakeholders, including the Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional Council for their study and consideration, a process that presents challenges and opportunities to all involved.

In closing I would like to extend my thanks to members of the Board and those who have been co-opted to assist in running the Trust. The achievements of the past year are testimony to their commitment to the vision. Hugh McCracken, Chairperson.

The Fells

Its been 50 years since you’ve heard their sound
5 engines clawing at the ground
All joined together... snail-ing along
All chanting their strange off-beat song

For 77 years they climbed “the hill”
Their English whistles shreaking shrill
With flanges squeal and exhaust a stutter... shouting
DAMN AND BLAST THE RIMUTAKA

They pay homage to inventor Mr Fell
Those strange contraptions, they did us well
The 3 mile climb remembered by most
Has become a rimu-taka ghost

Remember the men who rode the rails
And barking engines as fast as snails
Times of grime, soot, smoke and swears
Remember now... its been 50 years

And when the wind blows up on the hill
You can hear ghost trains climbing still
And as they climb the engines mutter
DAMN AND BLAST THE RIMUTAKA

Greg Craddock July '05

Maymorn progress

The Trust has taken occupancy of the Maymorn railway station site, reforming part of the access road, clearing scrub and gorse, and constructing a secure storage compound on the Wairarapa line boundary.

Reflections on U.K. heritage railways

Two of our members Jean & Glenn Fitzgerald visited heritage railways while on a visit to the U.K. recently...

On a recent trip to the UK we were fortunate to be able to visit several heritage railways. They included:

• the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway that runs from Toddington to Cheltenham racecourse
• the Ffestiniog from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog
• the Welsh Highland from Porthmadog to Caernarfon, and
• the Strathspey railway at Aviemore in Scotland.

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

The Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway was the first railway that we visited, and we were lucky enough to arrive on the first day a visiting locomotive was being used on that railway. The “Black Prince” is owned by a wealthy artist who leases it to the railway. The railway has several other locos and a large number of carriages, some running and others in various states of repair. We had a look around their yard and saw some of the rolling stock — there is work for years there! The railway is operated by a large number of volunteers and some paid staff.

Ffestiniog Railway

The Ffestiniog railway is a 1'11½" gauge railway, which was used by the slate mines. It was rescued by a group of preservationists in the early 1950’s and was one of the pioneers of heritage railways. Today it is a thriving international tourist destination, which annually attracts thousands of visitors.

It has narrow gauge steam and diesel engines and coaches of almost every description. We noted that most of the coaches have their seats covered in cloth with the company logo.

Welsh Highland Railway

To go on the Welsh Highland from Porthmadog we took a bus for the first part of the journey, as they haven’t yet completed the railway. On the way we could see people and machinery busily working on it. This is also a 1'11½" gauge railway, and is being reinstated on the old railway bed.

Strathspey Railway

Strathspey Steam Railway is a standard gauge railway operating from the mainline station at Aviemore. It runs to Broomfield and is hoping to extend to Grantown-on-Spey. They are currently down to one engine, which is a bit small, and having difficulty hauling the train. Its carriages are old BR stock, with not much done to them. It does own another engine but this is getting a two-year rebuild.

From what we saw, we gathered a few tips for new players. Firstly the reliability of locos is paramount. This should go without saying, but the situation at Strathspey was critical — it was only a matter of time before the engine gave up, and the railway would have to close or use a diesel until it could get its other one back — either way this will affect them badly, as their customers want to see steam. Another important point was that water supplies for the locos should be well planned and more than adequate — at the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway they had to stop along the line more than once. All of the railways accumulated more old carriages etc than they could manage to restore, and wherever possible these should be kept out of sight of the passengers. Custom built carriages can be appealing, and the interior of carriage design should be customized to suit, and should be very different to the standard design. One other thing we noticed were overbridges — although these are expensive they were very common.

Last days at Summit

H 201 at head of passenger train, Summit, 1950’s. Note the signal box, right and Rochfort’s Pass, upper middle. Photo: Nelson Stockbridge.

Summit signal box, cross-bracing affixed to strengthen the structure against the gale force winds that frequented the sub-alpine location. Photo: Nelson Stockbridge.

Contacts

Full contact details may be had on the Trust’s website at www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/contacts.html

Electronic copy

An electronic copy of this newsletter will be available on the Trust’s website at www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/member-pages/newsletter-13.html from 15th October 2005. Further copies can be printed, or images viewed in colour (where applicable).