Accommodation providers partnered with the trail are listed on the rimutaka cycle trail website. The railway will be a unique tourist attraction for wellington and new zealand, and a major contributor to the regional economy. A guide to the rimutaka incline national walkway graeme jupp on. The rimutaka cycle trail is a great way to explore the landscapes and. Please write to us about your experience with this museum, for corrections of our data or sending photos by using the contact form to the museum finder. It was the most elevated section of the rail route, and construction of the incline across the rugged rimutaka ranges required a bold engineering solution. Four children were killed and adults injured when two rail carriages were blown off the tracks by severe winds on a notoriously exposed part of the remutaka incline railway. Starting from cross creek, the worldfamous rimutaka incline wound its way up to summit station. Rimutaka incline, state highway 2, kaitoke, upper hutt. The remutaka incline, completed in 1878, was one of new zealands most ambitious early engineering projects. The rimutaka incline railway project hopes to incorporate these tunnels into its restored railway line across the rimutaka ranges. Little updating was done on this temporary solution, because a replacement tunnel would be built. The rimutaka rail trail is one of those things i hear a lot about, but until now ive never made the time to go and check it out, mostly thanks to being busy with other things. An interior view of the remutaka rail tunnel showing the rock fall of 9 september 1952.
Several alterations were made to the contract both prior to and during construction, including the replacement of one of three tunnels by a. This was the first major loss of life on new zealands railways. Building this long, snakey route over the range, including three tunnels, was a huge task for a lot of people in the latter part of the 19th century, but. The rimutaka incline railway heritage trust aims to reinstate and operate a heritage railway between wellington and the wairarapa. Notable bridges include the kilometrelong auckland harbour bridge, and the impressive series of elegant railway viaducts on the north island main trunk line. Christmas card designed by a p godber, using a montage of images of railway interest relating to the rimutaka incline. The threemile section of track between summit and cross creek on the wairarapa side of the range had an average grade of 1 in 15. He said whenever the trains went into the tunnels smoke. The line descended at a grade of 1 in 15, to pass through the 396 foot long horseshoe gully tunnel later to be known as siberia tunnel. The book traces the trains journey up the incline during a particularly stormy night. Rimutaka cycle trail and wairarapa shuttles and tours based in martinborough, we can provide transport for weddings, martinborough wineries, chartered tours of the region, conference groups and cycle transfers for the rimutaka cycle trail, wellington airport shuttles and festivals. The line transported passengers up the incline from cross creek to rimutaka summit. The rimutaka incline railway heritage trust aims to reinstate and operate a worldclass heritage railway between wellington and the wairarapa. Rimutaka incline railway building a sanctuary for steam.
Summit 584 m, and three shorter tunnels, opened 12 october 1878 on the rimutaka incline. It would be very noisy with lots of smoke when the trains went through the tunnels. The fell rail was also used for braking at rimutaka and special fell brake vans were used on trains descending the incline. Green jersey has the most experience and best options for riding this fantastic trail. New zealand railway tunnels, active and disused walk the famous rimutaka incline. The modern day trail traverses 4 tunnels, and is made up of 2km of single track. Living heritage millers flat bridge this exhibition by millers flat school provides an interesting account of the opening of millers flat bridge. The modern day trail traverses 4 tunnels, and is made up of 2km of single track, 6km of double track and 15km of unsealed road. Of the 27 men initially trapped, all but one, 20yearold greek migrant athanasassios athanassiaddes, were rescued within nine hours. Wellington, the hutt valley and wairarapa offer ample accommodation options between them, ranging from luxury hotels to farmstays. There are houses along the railway line and the bush has been cut off the hills. The recently completed track upgrade of the rimutaka rail trail has added width to the narrowest section of track which now provides users. The railway from upper hutt to the wairarapa included five tunnels, several large bridges and many steep grades. Here the fell locos finished their work for conventional locos to take over on the less severe run down to kaitoke and maymorn in the hutt valley.
The incline was closed on 29 october 1955, being replaced on 3 november of that year by the 8,798m 5 mile 821 yard rimutaka tunnel and associated deviation. This month in history news and events heritage new zealand. The remutaka rimutaka cycle trail is truly one of new zealands great rides. Rimutaka incline railway heritage trust home facebook. The museum also has an incline brake van and lots of railway memorabilia. Youll pass through tunnel gully reserve and the northern tip of the bushclad rimutaka range, before discovering the engineering ingenuity of the fell mountain rail system, which pulled passengers up the steep slope of the rimutaka incline. A change of pace the remutaka rail trail tda global cycling. Shewing sic centre rail on the incline image is a loose page from a photograph album which contains tourist photographs of new zealand date taken circa 1880. Text underneath the photograph reads view on the wellington and masterton railway. After closure of the incline, buildings at cross creek and summit were removed and rails and other fittings dismantled. Remutaka rail trail tourism information from destination wairarapa. New zealands hilly terrain and many rivers made bridges and tunnels a necessity, and their opening was often celebrated by large crowds.
This claim was also made by j a kelleher in his book upper hutt. We have two vans with capacity 10 and 11 passengers and a minibus with capacity up to 19. The tunnels are fun and the new swing bridge at siberia is amazing. External links and sources bridges and tunnels te ara. The climb up the ranges eastern flank, where the line rose 265 m in 4 km, required special fell mountain locomotives, which grip a raised centre rail with horizontal inner wheels. Five of these tunnels are now part of the rimutaka incline rail trail. Okaihau on the neveropened extension of the okaihau branch to rangiahua, unused but can be walked through easily spotted from sh1 passing okaihau township. The term rimutaka incline is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to other parts or all of the closed. There are six tunnels on the rimutaka incline route between upper hutt.
Railway bridges and tunnels that have been converted to roads. This is a so doable track for all with tunnels to explore plenty of swimming holes and. The rimutaka tunnel officially tunnel 2, wairarapa line is a railway tunnel through new zealands remutaka range, between maymorn, near upper hutt, and featherston, on the wairarapa line. It is the only road route over the rimutaka ranges, travelling through the pakuratahi forest on the hutt valley side of the ranges western side, to the wairarapa plains in the east. Our page for rimutaka incline railway in maymorn, upper hutt, new zealand, is not yet administrated by a member. The most challenging part of the railway was locating a route to descend from summit to the wairarapa plains, due to the steep and rugged topography on the eastern side of the rimutaka ranges. Nov 05, 20 fix and ride installing a new electronic shifter, wheels, and tires on my syncr hardtail duration. The institution of professional engineers new zealands website has a valuable database of significant bridges and tunnels. Railway tunnels of new zealand rail heritage trust of new.
Fell incline, and the current kiwirail line through the rimutaka tunnel. For 77 years specially built fell engines climbed the rimutaka incline. We generally start this ride at maymourn station, making it easy to access for visitors to the region. Remutaka tunnel collapse, 1952 nzhistory, new zealand. The featherston heritage museum tells the story of the historic featherston military base and its role as a prisoner of war camp in world war ii. The rimutaka railway was built as part of an ambitious 1871 government policy to construct a national railway network to attract immigrants and to help.
Harbour, the rimutaka cycle trail cuts through the bush clad rimutaka mountain range, passing through tunnels on an old rail trail, and skirting around the wild southern coast. The journey even inspired a childrens book, freddy the fell engine. Rimutaka cycle trail and wairarapa shuttles and tours. Development of the route in the 1870s is an internationally renowned engineering achievement. Prebook a shuttle to accommodation, towns and train services from cross creek with rimutaka shuttles. Running from kaitoke to summit, the remutaka rail trail links with the. Fix and ride installing a new electronic shifter, wheels, and tires on my syncr hardtail duration.
The rimutaka incline is the most elevated section of the original rail route from wellington to the wairarapa. The remutaka rail trail runs for 18km between the towns of featherston and upper hutt. Rail tragedy on the remutaka incline nzhistory, new. There are plenty of scenic picnic areas beside this large river and great swimming spots to. Wairarapa connection wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Media in category rimutaka incline the following 41 files are in this category, out of 41 total. Mar 17, 20 the line transported passengers up the incline from cross creek to rimutaka summit. Use of the line ceased in 1955 when the much more direct rimutaka rail tunnel opened. The rimutaka tunnel officially tunnel 2, wairarapa line is a railway tunnel through new. At the official opening ceremony on 3 november 1955 for the rimutaka tunnel at speedys crossing, the minister for railways, mr mcalpine, presented h 199 to the borough of featherston for display purposes. The city sights of lower and upper hutt are just a short detour away. Gunnar lotsbergs worlds longest tunnels road, rail and canal.
The august 20 issue of the wellington region heritage. Railway technology continued to evolve swiftly, and within a few decades the innovative fell system became old technology. Search the list rimutaka incline rail trail heritage. Hutt river trail events this event takes place each year on the saturday of wellingtons anniversary weekend run or walk an offroad marathon, half marathon or 10km, following the course of the hutt river, from the foothills of the rimutaka mountains at kaitoke to the rivers estuary at mcewan park on the shores of wellington harbour. Maymorn marks the 35km mark, from where the trail heads into bushy mountain foothills and follows the old rimutaka rail trail up to a spooky 576m tunnel and other historic relics near the summit. Aug 10, 2009 the rimutaka rail trail was reopened as a walking and mountain biking track a few years ago, and in that time its become very popular. Walk up to the rimutaka rail trail summit from upper hutt, then back again. Rimutaka incline railway heritage trust, upper hutt, new zealand. The august 20 issue of the wellington region heritage promotion council wrhpc. Michaels ride up the rimutaka incline, through the summit tunnel and back down again. It closed in 1955 with the opening of the rimutaka tunnel deviation. The fell engine museum houses the only fell engine in the world, a survivor from the days of the rimutaka incline railway.
The rimutaka rail trail is a gentle, well groomed path with a total of 5 tunnels to enjoy riding through, absolute beginners start from the kaitoke road end and those with a bit more experience and energy start from maymourn. The winding house was built in 1902 to accommodate the steam engine and winding gear. Easy riding awaits, since the tracks gradient is only around 1%. Rimutaka rail trail wellington 2020 all you need to know. August 17 on the building front, we are finally close to completing the rail vehicle shed. Two world wars and a depression delayed this until 1955. Photographer unknown description image shows part of the railway track along the rimutaka incline.
The rimutaka incline railway heritage trust is a nonprofit, charitable trust in new zealand that was established in 2003 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 worldfamous rimutaka incline. The rimutaka incline was the third and last fell system to be built. Rail tragedy on the remutaka incline nzhistory, new zealand. The railway reached the summit of the rimutaka range by conventional means, but such a route could not be found to descend to the wairarapa valley. The h class locomotives were showing their age, the incline was in bad shape, and. Cruickshanks tunnel is an abandoned tunnel between maymorn and upper hutt on the wairarapa line with a lot of odd bits and pieces to be found along a the old railway line. Fell system not cog, but a braking rail trains magazine. From petone foreshore it winds along the hutt river trail, a leisurely pathway through leafy urban areas and riverside reserves.
The incline was steep, and a special system was designed to pull trains up the slope. Rail bridges, tunnels and viaducts in russia, cis and the baltics. Feb 11, 2017 michaels ride up the rimutaka incline, through the summit tunnel and back down again. Railway tunnels of new zealand rail heritage trust of. The winding rimutaka hill road, on state highway 2 is well known to nz motorcyclists. Rimutaka rail trail wellington 2020 all you need to. The rail trail is a gently graded 18 km walk or mountain bike ride. Pacific island books boats, planes, trains and things boats, planes, trains and things. Givealittle is the place to donate and fundraise for causes and charities online. The term rimutaka incline is sometimes used incorrectly.
The tunnel, which was opened to traffic on 3 november 1955, is 8. Check out other day rides on the trail or ride the full trail. Rimutaka incline railway heritage trust posts facebook. Rimutaka rail trail wellington side windy hilltops. Rimutaka cycle trail the official trail website new zealand cycle trail rimutaka cycle trail. Talk to us about our bespoke tour options, whether you are just hiring bikes or looking for luxury supported and guided tours. The original locomotives lasted from the 1880s until the 1950s there are photos of the 1954 royal train on the incline but the fell section was bypassed later by spiral tunnels. Rimutaka incline railway museum finder, guide, radio, tec. Wellington, new zealand, its transport and industries.
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