Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust

User:Mtpt/Template:Heritage Railway
name=Rimutaka Incline Railway
locale=Maymorn, New Zealand
terminus=
linename=Wairarapa Line
originalguage=RailGauge|42
operator=
stations=Maymorn
length=
preservedguage=RailGauge|42
originalopen=1878-10-16
closed=1955-10-30:"Throughout this article, the unqualified term "dollar" and the $ symbol refer to the New Zealand dollar." The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust is a non-profit, charitable trust that was established with the objective of reinstating an operating heritage railway over the Rimutaka Ranges using the original route of the Wairarapa Line between Maymorn and Featherston, including the world-famous Rimutaka Incline. The trust was formed by a steering committee that had earlier been established to investigate the proposal, and was comprised mainly of members from existing rail heritage organisations.

Objectives

The Trust was established with the goal of realising the following objectives [Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust. [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/about-us.html About Us] .] :

# To plan, fund, reinstate and operate a tourist heritage railway on former railway route between Upper Hutt and Featherston, and any other directly or indirectly connected railway;
# Acquire by agreement, lease or purchase such lands as are required to allow the reinstatement of the former railway route between Upper Hutt and Featherston and any other such lands as will further the objectives of the Trust;
# Acquire by agreement, lease or purchase such items of railway rolling stock, tools and material to facilitate the construction and operation of the tourist heritage railway;
# Raise funds for and facilitate the conservation and protection of the former railway route and heritage structures and features thereon;
# To plan, fund and construct appropriate buildings, structures, infrastructure and facilities to facilitate the construction and operation of the tourist heritage railway;
# To arrange interpretative displays for the public, to promote knowledge and education of heritage railways, and in particular the Rimutaka Incline Railway, the historic factors that led to its creation and raise awareness of the personalities involved;
# Facilitate research, discussion, education and interchange of information on topics related to the Rimutaka Incline Railway and environs.

Timeline

* July 2002: Official recognition of Historic Places Trust registration of the railway formation between Kaitoke and Cross Creek and Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand awards for restoration of two bridges on the route.
* August 2002: Rimutaka Incline Railway Steering Committee formed at the behest of the Wellington Regional Council Landcare Committee to investigate how a tourist heritage railway might operate on the historic railway formation.
* 16 July 2003: Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust formed.
* 8 August 2003: Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust incorporated as a charitable trust.
* 28 August 2003: First trust meeting held.
* 24 November 2003: Economic feasibility report from BERL (Business and Economic Research Ltd.) released.
* 17 December 2003: Trust begins accepting memberships for new members.
* 14 July 2005: 20-year License to Occupy for the Maymorn station precinct secured from Ontrack.
* 29 October 2005: “Turning of the first sod” ceremony held at Maymorn.
* 7 December 2005 to 23 December 2005: Six carriages, donated to the trust, relocated to the Maymorn yard.
* April 2006: Three guards van modules donated to the trust.
* 8 June 2006: Hutt-Mana Charitable Trust grant of $4,000 received by the trust to contribute to the cost of erecting a security fence.
* 22 July 2006 & 23 July 2006: Two Q-class coal hopper wagons transported to Maymorn site.
* Q3 2006: Charitable trust grants totalling $75,000 secured for the construction of a rail vehicle shed.
* Q3 2006: New Zealand Community Trust grant of $4,000 received to purchase further security fencing materials.
* October 2006: “Sponsor a length of track” campaign launched.
* 9 December 2006: Platelaying of sponsored track in the Maymorn yard begins.
* 4 May 2007: Donated former North Island Main Trunk sleeping carriage transported to Maymorn site.
* 17 May 2007: Resource Consent application for construction works at Maymorn lodged with Upper Hutt City Council.
* 1 June 2007: Lotteries Grants Board grant of $150,000 secured for costs associated with construction of rail vehicle shed.
* 27 August 2007: Eight of the YC class ballast wagons ordered by the trust arrive in Wellington.
* 5 September 2007: Three of the ballast wagons are transported to the Maymorn site.
* 21 September 2007: Interim Rail Service License secured from Land Transport New Zealand.
* 24 April 2008: Resource Consent for construction related to the trust's operations at Maymorn granted by the Upper Hutt City Council.

Project

The trust proposes to progressively reinstate and operate the railway between Maymorn and Featherston in four stages, including:
* Stage 1, Upper Hutt to Summit: Reinstatement of railway line between new station at Maymorn and a station at Summit; operation using conventional motive power between Maymorn, Kaitoke and Summit; use of the national rail network between Upper Hutt and Maymorn [Rimutaka Incline Railway. [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/project/maymorn-summit.html Stage 1 - Upper Hutt to Summit] .] .
* Stage 2, Wellington to Upper Hutt: Establishing links with Wellington to promote the railway as a tourist opportunity; possible operation on the national rail network between Wellington and Upper Hutt [Rimutaka Incline Railway. [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/project/stage2.html Stage 2 - Wellington to Upper Hutt] .] .
* Stage 3, Summit to Cross Creek: Reinstatement of the Rimutaka Incline between Summit and Cross Creek stations; operation using two new Fell locomotives and brake vans [Rimutaka Incline Railway. [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/project/stage3.html Stage 3 - Summit to Cross Creek] .] .
* Stage 4, Cross Creek to Featherston: Connection with the national rail network at or near Featherston; operation of return journeys to Featherston [Rimutaka Incline Railway. [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/project/stage4.html Stage 4 - Cross Creek to Featherston] .] .

References

External links

* [http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/index.html Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust] . Official project/trust web site.
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/8068092@N04/ Rimutaka rail pix's photostream] . Photos of project progress.