The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust is a non-profit, charitable trust in New Zealand that was established in 2003 with the objective of reinstating an operating heritage railway over the Remutaka Ranges using the original route of the Wairarapa Line between Maymorn and Featherston, including the world-famous Rimutaka Incline.

Foundation and objectives

The trust was formed by a steering committee that had earlier been established to investigate the proposal, and was composed mainly of members from existing rail heritage organisations. It was established with the goal of realising the following objectives:

Timeline

Facilities and equipment

Rail vehicle shed

The main rail vehicle shed is currently under construction nearing completion with a workshop annex having been completed

Locomotives

Parts for NZR WB class locomotives 292 & 299 have been acquired by the Trust where there are being restored to working order. NZR TR class No. 937 Diesel shunting locomotive has been acquired from KiwiRail and, having been restored, is used for shunting and construction duties. NZR AB class No.745 North British built Pacific locomotive, makers No. 22880 of 1922. The locomotive was involved in a washout accident on 16 July 1956 and plummeted 50 feet, while hauling a full load of freight from Wanganui to New Plymouth. Both crew survived. Too expensive to recover it remained in situ built into the embankment at Hāwera. The engine lay undisturbed until November 2001, when it was purchased for $1 by the Hooterville Heritage Trust, and in 2002 salvage work began after 46 years underground. The raised wreck minus tender was taken to Waitara. In 2007, The Taranaki Flyer Society Inc. was formed and AB745 was transported to its new home at the old railway goods shed at Stratford, where it was being restored. Lack of funds and the loss of the Stratford old railway goods shed led to the Society asking for expressions of interest in the locomotive. The Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust's proposal was accepted and it was moved to Maymorn in October 2013. Two replica NZR H class "Fell" locomotives will be commissioned by the Trust to operate the incline section of their line for stage 3 of the project.

Wagons

The Trust has acquired 13 YC-class ballast wagons and 2 Q-class coal hopper wagons, currently located at their Maymorn site, and plans to use them in the construction of its line and for ongoing track maintenance.

Carriages

The Trust's fleet includes five NZR 56-foot carriages and one NZR 50-foot carriage. These vehicles will be restored after the rail vehicle shed is completed.

Maymorn station

A heritage-themed station based on the Troup-era Waimate station has been proposed for the Maymorn site. It was hoped to have this building completed by 2015, but this has not occurred.

Track

Two tracks have been laid east of the rail vehicle shed which are currently being used for vehicle storage. Tracks are also being laid in the rail vehicle shed as part of the construction of the shed's floor and inspection pits. Two potential routes have been identified to connect the Trust's operation at the Maymorn site to the original railway formation.

Rolling Stock

NZR steam locomotives

NZR diesel locomotives

Industrial diesel Locomotives

Project

The trust proposes to progressively reinstate and operate the railway between Maymorn and Featherston in four stages, including: