Hey Steve, check out :

http://www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/

It will live again!

Do you know if the De locos went all the way over the hill before the tunnel? And if the Wairarapa railcars did the same?

SteveF

Steve

The 'Incline was a fascinating section of railway wasn't it?  However, it should be remembered that it was only ever going to be a 'temporary' line, and was built  to give Wellington a railway connection 'over the hill' and with the rest of New Zealand; the idea that the capital city being not connected with the rest of the country being unconscionable.

The fact that it lasted so long was/is typical of New Zealand (If it works, why stop it), and it certainly did work well - albeit very slowly.

 However, it was always a bottleneck and was inevitably going to be replaced by a tunnel.  The technology and the money to carry out that action simply wasn't available at the time, although the tunnel was surveyed early-on and was always going to be built 'eventually'.

It can be said that the 'Incline decline stared when the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Co built its line along the West Coast, (Now the line from Wellington to Palmerston North via Levin, Otaki, Porirua etc) in direct competition with the (slow) Government system (over the 'Incline) and after the NZ Government purchased the WMR in 1908, train speeds improved immensely, and the 'Incline became increasingly less important. 

With time, it came to be seen as slowing progress, especially as the area it served (The Wairarapa) was growing and expanding due to farming and population growth, and local lobby-groups pressured successive governments to get rid of the 'Incline and finally get the tunnel built - something which eventually happened in the 1950's.  The DFK from memory was in an area of relatively light traffic and was more rural in its outlook.  The 'Incline was part of a national system that was expanding and carrying increasing tonnage.  Tonnage that it simply wasn't designed to handle and was beyond anything perceived at the time of its construction,

And as for preservation?  In the 1950's there was only one preserved railway line anywhere in the world - the Ffestiniog in Wales, and railway preservation was a total unknown - the concept just didn't exist.  With that in mind, there was no through to preserving the 'Incline at the time of its replacement with the tunnel, and as NZ was rebuilding after WW2, the idea was far from any one's thoughts.  Possibly some far-sighted individuals may have given thought to the matter - but NZGR management would not have been amongst those that did so.

Effectively, the Rimutaka Incline was old, it was very out-dated, it was very slow, it was extremely labour-intensive, and very expensive to run. It was also was located in an area of high winds, an appalling climate and, because of its unique peculiarities in respect of motive power and track, was a very high-maintenance operation as a result. And it was almost totally worn out,  It had outlived its usefulness, and after 80-odd years as a 'temporary' line it was really time for it to be replaced by something a little more 'permanent'.

The Tunnel did everything expected of it, opening-up the Wairarapa and promoting that area's growth and speeding-up train services to the capital, with teh result that people in the area now commute to work in Wellington, something unheard-of and impossible  during the 'Incline's day. 

As I said, it was a fascinating section of railway - glad you enjoyed the DVD

Hope this helps

Komata

"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "

Ah - should rtfm. De s hauled to Summit on the Wellington side. Still not sure about the railcars. . .

The Wairarapa Railcars did indeed wander across the incline.

Coolest part of the whole DVD?  Film of a train leaving Cross Creek with "Halls of the Mountain King' by Greig blaring on the soundtrack.  Just magic, and so apt!!

Steve, if you evere get down Wellington way, the Fell Museam in Featherston is a must see. Its probably the best small railway museam in the country.

One of the 'forumers' B 0-4-4-0 is currently involved in the rebuilding/completion of the museams model exhibits.

The De s didnt have the extra brakes or allowances for the middle rail  so only went wellington to summit but the wiararapa cars were built for the line so included the 4 wheel braking system on the incline so 1 of the most versatle peices of nzr equipment

other motive power on the hill were We class (4-6-4 T), E class (2-6-6-0 T) and Wg class #480

Steve

If you should ever be seeking a challenge for a steam locomotive to build, E66 would be one of the most interesting - a 2-6-6-0T with Vauclain cylinders (the trailing set facing rearwards  a la' the Kitson Meyer-type) and the exhaust from the trailing cylinders running-up the back of the cab. 

It was a unique locomotive, purpose-built for the incline from 'bits and pieces' and ideal for the job it was intended to do.  Unfortunately it wasn't left to do its job over the Incline, but was later transferred to Wellington as a banker to Porirua and used for purposes for which it was never designed - and at speeds it wasn'to really capable of.

With what he was given (spares off previous NZR locomotive orders), it's designer, (George Pearson) made a remarkable unit , but unfortunately its later lack of success in the Wellington district led to his vilification and the E has subsequently become known as 'Pearson's Dream' - a very unfair appellation to both locomotive and designer.

As I said, a challenge.  No doubt someone will eventually build an E in NZ120, although the cylinders and wheels would require a lot of scratchbuilding and turning.

Just a thought . . .

Komata

"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "