The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust has had two grants totalling $75,000 approved for a rail vehicle shed at Maymorn. The Community Trust of Wellington has approved a grant of $50,000 in conjunction with a $25,000 Rimutaka community grant from Trust House.
The rail vehicle shed will protect, conserve, and allow for the future restoration and maintenance of the Trust’s current fleet of heritage carriages. It will also provide similar facilities for steam and diesel locomotives that will be based at the railway in the future.
The shed is being modelled on the “NZR Standard Drawing Two Road Engine Shed” of 1911. A number of sheds were built to this or similar designs around the country, including and most relevantly, Upper Hutt and Masterton. The Trust wishes the shed to conform to key features of the historical design as far as is practicable, including: roof pitch, door style and position, barge boards and eaves. Essentially the end elevations of the shed will closely match the old design, except for the provision of current rail vehicle clearances at the main doors. Windows will be omitted primarily for security reasons, but also to reduce framing and joinery costs.
Having secured $75,000 of funding, the Trust plans to re-evaluate its options for building the rail vehicle shed. This will most likely involve a greater amount of input from volunteers, and the construction of the shed in stages. The Trust will also reapply to the Lottery Grants Board Environment and Heritage Committee, having now secured partnership funding.