Fell Engine Museum
Encyclopedia
Featherston, New Zealand
Featherston is a town in the north of the Wellington Region region of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairarapa, just north of the Rimutaka Tunnel, in the South Wairarapa District. The population was 2,340 in the 2006 Census....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, is a museum based around the only remaining Fell railway
Fell mountain railway system
The Fell system uses a raised centre rail between the two running rails on steeply-graded railway lines to provide extra traction and braking, or braking alone. Trains are propelled by wheels or braked by shoes pressed horizontally onto the centre rail, as well as by means of the normal running...
locomotive in the world.
This locomotive, number H 199, climbed 265 metres (869.4 ft) up the 4.8 kilometres (3 mi) Rimutaka Incline using John Barraclough Fell
John Barraclough Fell
John Barraclough Fell , was a British railway engineer and inventor of the Fell mountain railway system.Fell spent the early part of his life in London, living with his parents. About 1835 he moved with them to the Lake District. In 1840, he married a 25-year-old woman named Martha in Kirkstall,...
's unique method of four grip wheels on a raised center rail.
H 199 is one of six H class
NZR H class
The NZR H class locomotive was a unique class of locomotive used by the New Zealand Railways Department on the famous Rimutaka Incline, the three-mile section of 1 in 15 gradient between Cross Creek and Summit, over the Rimutaka Ranges...
locomotives designed for use on the 1 in 15 Rimutaka Incline, where they worked for 77 years. Their story is recalled by audio-visual programmes, models, photographs and memorabilia in the museum.
The museum is dedicated to the sole surviving engine of its kind in the world. It is housed and tended to by a group of dedicated rail enthusiasts.
From its humble beginnings, the Fell Engine Museum has grown to be a world recognised tourist attraction.
History
At the official opening ceremony on 3 November 1955 for the Rimutaka Tunnel at Speedy’s Crossing, the Minister for Railways, Mr McAlpine, presented H 199 to the Borough of Featherston for display. After H 199 completed its duties on the demolition trains removing the Incline track it was towed to Hutt Workshops where it was stored until August 1958, when it was towed to Featherston and mounted on a plinth in a playground for children to play on.In 1980, it became obvious that despite the locomotive was deteriorating through age and exposure to the elements. The Friends of the Fell Society was formed with the objective of preserving and housing it. Restoration work commenced in 1981, and proceeded as volunteer labour was available. During the restoration work, the Fell Engine Museum was constructed across the main road and next to the town’s old courthouse.
In late February 1984, H 199 was prepared for relocation to the new museum, scheduled to happen on 10 March. On relocation day, the locomotive was loaded on to a house removal truck and transported to the new museum, where it was lifted on to a temporary trackset that enabled it to be winched into the building. Restoration work continued until 1988. It has never been the intention of the Friends of the Fell Society to steam the engine, though it has been restored to near fully working order. Currently, the engine is mounted on rollers driven by an electric motor so visitors to the museum can see the moving parts in action.
In 1995 the Friends of the Fell Society secured a lease on F 210, the sole remaining Fell brake van, from MoTaT
Museum of Transport and Technology
The Museum of Transport and Technology is a museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles...
for display in the museum. One of the conditions of the lease was that the brake van would be restored to the condition it was in when in service.
With the arrival of F 210 in Featherston in June 1995 courtesy of Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
, restoration commenced in the workshop of the nearby Batavia Rubber Company. The museum was extended, and on 11 December 1996 F 210 was transported to its new home, where restoration was completed on 20 August 1997.