News archive

Maymorn Pedestrian Crossing

Members of the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust have been busy at Maymorn, constructing a pedestrian crossing between the future RIR loop and the Ontrack boundary.

Maymorn fencing

Fencing work continues along the Trust / Ontrack lease boundary, for which two grants have been gratefully received — from Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and the New Zealand Community Trust.

Six carriages donated to the Trust

Six 56-foot railway carriages have been donated by a member of the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust. They have been in storage at Ohakune for many years, originally intended for use as accommodation. The Trust is extremely thankful for the support of the Rimutaka Trust in covering most of the transport expenses associated in bringing them to Maymorn. This is an unique opportunity for the railway to secure its own carriages — albeit long-term restoration projects.

Launch of the Rimutaka Incline Railway project — 29 October 2005

Exactly 50 years since the last train ascended the Rimutaka Incline Railway, the project to reinstate the former route as a heritage railway has been launched. At 11am, Saturday 29 October 2005, the first sod was turned by the Hon. Paul Swain, M.P. for Rimutaka, and Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy. A first length of track was laid past the ‘zero-peg’ in the Maymorn station yard, where the Trust plans to build a heritage station building, locomotive shed and future operational base for the railway.

Rimutaka Incline Railway project to be launched

A celebration of the physical beginning of the Rimutaka Incline Railway project on Saturday 29 October 2005, on the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Rimutaka Incline route, and subsequent opening of the Rimutaka Tunnel and deviation.

Maymorn “Licence to occupy” secured

On Thursday 14th July 2005 the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust secured a long-term “Licence to occupy” much of the former railway yards at Maymorn station, 6km north of Upper Hutt on the Wairarapa Line. [17 July 2005]

Heritage station building grant

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust was delighted to receive a grant of $19,200 from the Rimutaka Trust towards the preparation of architectural design work, working drawings and specification of a heritage station building at Maymorn. [27th June 2005]

Forest Lands Plan submission

On the 18th of March 2005, the Trust submitted to the Greater Wellington Regional Council's Draft Forest Lands Plan: Future Water Catchments, seeking changes to the plan to facilitate future access for the Rimutaka Incline Railway.

In considering the submission, "Councillors noted that the policies as outlined in the draft plan did not preclude the restoration of a heritage railway" and exempted "trains" from the list of motorised recreation activities that are prohibited from the Pakuratahi Forest Park.

Summit Tree Planting

Trust and Forest & Bird members planting trees at Summit, 7 November 2004. Photo: Hugh McCracken.

The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust was granted permission by Greater Wellington, the Regional Council to plant native trees at Summit. The trees have been sourced from the Upper Hutt branch of Forest and Bird. A planting day held on 7 November 2004 was the first of many efforts the Trust wishes to facilitate in order to assist in the reinstatement of the natural environment at Summit (and the route in general).

Outdoor Expo and Race Weekend

Over the weekend of 30th, 31st October 2004 the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust had a display at the Expo site at Poets Park, between the River Road (SH2) and Hutt River just north of Moonshine Bridge, Upper Hutt.

Rail-Ex 2004

The Trust was invited to attend the 2004 Rail-Ex, held at the Events Centre, Wellington over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of October. As Rail-Ex is predominantly a model railway exhibition, a point of difference was required in order to publicise the Trust's mission and objectives. A full-size demonstration section of Fell railway was constructed principally from new materials and was placed on the exhibition floor, complete with ballast, at the prototypical gradient of 1 in 15.

Submission to Greater Wellington Regional Council

On Wednesday, 22 September 2004 the Trust made a submission to the Draft Forest Lands Plan: Future Water Catchments, including a 115-page Business Plan for 2004 - 2008 and the BERL Feasibility Assessment that was completed in November 2003.

Upper Hutt Community Expo

Trustees Barry, Glenn and Hugh were kept busy over June 18th and 19th 2004 at the Upper Hutt Community Expo held at Lane Park. The Trust had quite a large display, including display boards promoting and detailing the heritage-tourist railway proposal, a video, and scale model of the Trust's Maymorn heritage precinct proposal.

BERL give positive economic feasibility assessment

Press release, 24 November 2003: The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust's proposal to reinstate the railway over the Rimutaka Range has taken another major step towards fruition with the release of a positive economic assessment from BERL (Business and Economic Research Ltd). BERL has recognised that the proposal is ambitious, exciting, and one that will define a point of difference in Wellington's tourist attraction offerings.
The report has been made possible by funding, gratefully received and made available, from the Rimutaka Licensing Charitable Trust.

125th anniversary celebrated

The 125th anniversary of the opening of the Kaitoke to Featherston section of the Wellington to Masterton Railway was celebrated at Summit on 18th October, with a plaque unveiling, speeches, display, and traversal of the route by bus and foot.

Economic Feasibility Study Commissioned

Funding has been secured from the Rimutaka Licensing Charitable Trust for an Economic Feasibility Study, to determine potential Regional Economic Impact of the tourist attraction, and the shape and form of the heritage railway.

In principle support from Upper Hutt City Council

14 May 2003 - Upper Hutt City Council notes the potential of the Rimutaka Incline Railway to be an 'iconic' tourist attraction, and gives its support for the project in principle.

Kaitoke breakthrough

Transit, 18 February 2003 - State Highway 2 realignment works at Kaitoke altered to allow for a future reinstatement of a tourist heritage railway.

Wellington Regional Council Landcare Committee

Two members of the Rimutaka Incline Railway Steering Committee attended and presented to the WRC Landcare Meeting of 19th November. The Council resolved to appreciate the efforts expended on the proposal thus far, and offering assistance where practicable. Recommendations of WRC Report 02.688 'Proposal to Reinstate the Rimutaka Railway' were scratched, as minuted in Report 02.801 'Minutes of Landcare Meeting 19 November 2002.

Councillors were generally supportive of the proposal, and encouraged the Rimutaka Incline Railway Steering Committee to proceed with a feasibility study and business plan.

'Implications of access for the Railway's proposal will be considered during the development of the Forest Lands Management Plan.' (Report 02.801 'Minutes of Landcare Meeting 19 November 2002)

The recommendations were an excellent outcome for the Rimutaka Incline Railway Steering Committee, as it sought support and assistance for the railway proposal.