THE RIMUTAKA INCLINE and H 199

During planning for the construction of a railway to cross the steep Rimutaka Range, cable and rack systems were both considered. Use of a cable system was rejected because all possible routes contained curves too severe for this method. The rack system, which uses toothed grip wheels and a centre rack rail, was not adopted because it was only in the development stage and had not been tested under hard-working conditions. Englishman John Fell's simple friction-drive system, of smooth horizontal powered wheels on the locomotive held against the side of a raised centre rail, was chosen. The fact that the Rimutaka Incline operated successfully for 77 years from 1878 to 1955 is testimony to the wisdom of this choice.

The exceedingly slow and labour-intensive operation of the Rimutaka Incline, together with the high cost of maintaining ageing engines, ultimately led to the construction of a tunnel under the range. 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.
 

After closure of the Incline, buildings at Cross Creek and Summit were removed and rails and other fittings dismantled. Five of the six Fell locomotives were scrapped in 1957 at Silverstream, Upper Hutt. At the opening ceremony of the tunnel, locomotive H 199 was presented to the people of Featherston as a memorial to the men and women who for 77 years had provided the service over the Rimutakas.

H 199 was placed in a Featherston park in August 1958 where, exposed to the weather and vandals, it deteriorated quickly. Restoration of the locomotive commenced on 15 March 1981 with the removal of many parts and fittings. On 10 March 1984, H 199 was moved to the specially built Fell Locomotive Museum where it was rebuilt. Restoration was completed after eight years and 9,000 hours of voluntary work on 31 March 1989.

In 1990, the Friends of the Fell Society received from the National Federation of Rail Societies the prestigious A & G Price Award for the best locomotive restoration.

FELL BRAKE-VAN F 210

To safely operate the steep Rimutaka Incline, seven Fell brake-vans were built, two in England and five at the Petone railway workshops in Lower Hutt. The vans played an important part in the operation of the Rimutaka Incline. The brake gear comprised four upright cantilever arms pivoted on the floor of each van. On the lower ends of these arms were bolted the four brake blocks which gripped the centre rail.
 

A specially trained man, known as an Incline Guard, operated each van. On ascending trains, all the vans, up to five, were on the rear. On descending trains, up to three vans were placed behind the Fell locomotives, all of which were at the head, with one van in the middle, and one at the rear.F 210 was built at Petone in 1898. It worked on the Incline for 57 years until closure in 1955. It was then transferred to Greymouth where it worked until 1966 on the Rewanui Incline, which serviced a coal mine. In 1968 it was moved the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland.

In June 1995, the Fell Museum negotiated a long-term lease with MOTAT, to restore F 210 to its condition when last in service on the Rimutaka Incline. The restoration was completed in August 1997, and this unique vehicle is now displayed alongside H 199 in the Museum.

In 1998, the Friends of the Fell Society received from the National Federation of Rail Societies the Rolling Stock Award for its restoration of F 210.

H199 was placed in a children's playground in Clifford Square, Featherston, in August 1958. By the time this photograph was taken, in September 1960, the locomotive was already in poor condition. Despite attention throughout the 1960s and 1970s by railway enthusiasts, H199 continued to deteriorate in its open-air location.

Photo: T.W. Collerton, Fell Locomotive Museum collection
 

FROM RUST...

...TO SPLENDOUR

Between March 1981 and March 1989, the Friends of the Fell Society restored H199 to its condition when last used on the Rimutaka Incline. This photograph was taken in January 1989, at which time the temporary track outside the Museum was still in place.

Photo: Noel Meek, Fell Locomotive Museum collection