Part 5 - Cross Creek and the Fell Museum

So I made it across the Rimutaka Ranges from Maymorn to Cross Creek! Cross Creek Station was once occupied by several cottages, a hall, school, library, locomotive depot and a locomotive turntable. The actual Rail Trail goes on past here but is now on private land, so a single track to a car-park has been created to get you back to Featherston.

Cross Creek Station

After 3 and a half hours I'm glad to be here

Look! Longdrops!

Singletrack to the Cross Creek Carpark

Through the bush

Past the flats. I met Dad on this track walking
along to meet me.

Back at the Start/Finish - but you wouldn't want to
bike up from this direction!

My support crew pick up

I couldn't end the story without visiting the Fell Museum in Featherston to see my old playmate - Fell Engine H-199. She is the only remaining Fell engine from the six that serviced the Rimutaka Incline for 77 years. I have to say it was quite an emotional moment to see the old girl all done up to the nines. She's looking so good and has well-and-truly earned her retirement. H-199 and her fellow Fell Engines deserve to have their exploits admired for years to come. 

Fell Museum, Featherston

Wow! There she is! Fell Engine H-199.
Doesn't she look good!

Inside the cab. I've played with all those knobs...

...and turned all those wheels :)

Yes I did shed a little tear.
Wonder if she remembers me too :)

I felt like I was 10 years old again seeing my old playmate. It was a fitting end to my Rimutaka Cycle Trail expedition. It's been many decades since I have seen H-199 but I'd know her anywhere :)

I definitely recommend biking this trail, it's a nice easy ride with lots of historic points of interest, well maintained and beautiful scenery. If you want it really easy I would start at the Kaitoke Carpark.

And if you weren't a trainspotter before you set out, you might very well become one by the end!

Part 4 - Summit to Cross Creek: The Incline

Now this section is the famous Rimutaka Incline with it's 1 in 15 gradient. It is 3 miles long (4.8 km) and was opened for traffic on 12 October 1878. The patented Fell centre-rail system was employed to enable specially-fitted locomotives to negotiate the steep grade safely. So this means there were three rails instead of the usual two on this section. 

Normal trains would pull carriages to either Summit or Cross Creek, then the Fell engines would be attached to haul the carriages up or break them carefully down the steep incline depending on the direction. Then they had to take the Fells off and let the train go on it's way. Mum and Dad both remember it well. It was a very slow journey what with changing engines twice as well.

The Rimutaka Incline operated successfully from 1878 to 1955. The 6 brave little Fell Engines busted their boilers for 77 years!

Summit Tunnel 584m long- the Incline starts in the middle
of this tunnel

Out the other end

Very pretty waterfall

On the other side of Summit Tunnel there is a very nice lookout point. You can see how far there is to go! In the distance I can see Price's Tunnel. But first there is Siberia to traverse. Known as Horseshoe Gully while the railway was being built, this area became known as Siberia because of the severe wind and weather that blasted through there, including snow. The only fatal accident on the line happened here in 1880 due to a huge gust of wind pitching three carriages over the embankment. Sadly four children died.

Lookout over the Rail Trail

Siberia Tunnel

Horseshoe "Siberia" Bend used to follow along a large curved earth embankment that filled what is now the Siberia Gully from 1876 to 1967. In 1967 it collapsed in a massive washout after the line was closed and maintenance was stopped on the stream diversion system. The concrete intake shaft that was installed to collect and divert the gully stream remains standing in the gully. Now you have to dismount your bike and make your way down into the gully. Then it's a matter of picking your way across the stream, pushing your bike.

Looking down onto Siberia Gully and the stream

Stream diversion shaft - the top is the level that the
railway line once was

Back up onto the Incline

Soon enough you find yourself pushing the bike back up onto the Incline again, and now it's time to fly like the wind! Due to the steepness of the Incline it is a pleasurable ride downhill albeit on a gravelly track. Not a lot of pedaling required on the descent to Cross Creek!

Price's Tunnel

First glimpse of the Wairarapa Valley

Entering Cross Creek Station

Part 3 - Summit Railway Settlement

Now I'm all fueled up it's exciting getting near to Summit Yards! After the straight you chug around a long bend and come onto Summit plateau hidden in the middle of the Pakuratahi Forest. Who knew?

Chugging around the bend

Onto Summit plateau

Old locomotive engines - not "Fell" engines though

Looking into the boiler of a loco

The railway settlement of Summit existed from 1878 to 1955. Five houses for railway workers and their families, along with an engine shed and a signal box were the only buildings in this remote outpost. The railway yard was extended in 1903 to handle increased traffic and a turntable was installed for larger locos in 1943.

The main purpose of Summit was to shunt trains and change engines for the journey on the Rimutaka Incline.

I made it to Summit! Wearing my headlamp for the tunnels

Looking toward Summit shelter

Summit Shelter

It was quite windy when I got to Summit so I stopped in the shelter and had the rest of my lunch before heading off down the famous Rimutaka Incline section.

Boiled eggs and a slice of bread

Looking back at Summit Plateau

They even provide toilets here!

Part 2 - Kaitoke to Summit

So now I felt I was really on my way. It's a gentle grade from here on - no more pushing the bike uphill!

Start of the Rail Trail

Here we go on the two-wheeled choo choo!

Heading for the Hills

Next interesting historic feature is Munitions Bend where you cross a small creek. It is believed that an area near the original railway bridge was used for military purposes during the two World Wars. There is also a bridge that was installed in 2003, but I insisted on biking through the creek and of course I got my feet wet!

Through the creek at Munitions Bend

Bridge installed in 2003

Now we are on they way to Pakaratahi Tunnel. This is a curved tunnel and is said to be the first concrete block structure in New Zealand. The rails had not reached the tunnel when it was constructed so bricks could not be brought from Wellington to line it. Therefore 13,500 concrete blocks had to be made on-site.

Winding alongside the Pakaratahi River to the tunnel

Pakaratahi Tunnel entrance

Trying to show the curved tunnel

Next feature is the Ventilation Shaft for the current Rimutaka Tunnel which just happens to come out beside the old Rail Trail. And not far past this comes the Pakaratahi Truss Bridge. The original Howe-style truss bridge was constructed in 1876 and it was rebuilt after a fire in 1910. It is the oldest truss bridge in New Zealand.

Rimutaka Tunnel Ventilation Shaft

Approaching the truss bridge

Oldest truss bridge in New Zealand

What you would have seen out of the train window

Moving on to Ladle Bend Creek Bridge. This is New Zealand's second oldest simple beam (understrutted) bridge. It has stone abutments and a central pier. When in service on the Railway Line it had no side rails. I'm glad they have added some now.

Ladle Bend Creek Bridge

Looking back at the bridge to see how far I've come

There is a bit of a long straight section that is slightly steeper after this, so I thought it was a good idea to stop for lunch.

Mum packed me off with some saveloys in a thermos
and tomato sauce. Yum!

Part 1 - Maymorn to Kaitoke

I set off at 10.30 am with my bike on the Masterton train heading for Maymorn, which is just through the current train tunnel on the other side of the Rimutakas. The journey takes about an hour so I had a nice relaxing time watching the Wairarapa Valley pass by out the window. I was also entertained by listening in on conversations being had by local farmers who were on their way to Wellington. They knew a lot about the area's local history - not to mention the local gossip!

On the way to Maymorn

Watching the Valley go by

Off at Maymorn Station at 11.30am I was expecting to see a big sign pointing the way to the Rail Trail. But no such luck! So I headed off in the direction of Featherston and the hills and after biking under the railway bridge eventually came across some signs. I was on my way.

Getting my direction together at Maymorn Station

Heading down Parkes Line Road

Soon enough I reached the entrance to Tunnel Gully and I knew I was on track so to speak. The trail is lined with pine trees and this section is the steepest part of the trail in this direction. I did a bit of pushing the bike uphill here, and I started to wonder why I was doing this expedition. I was imagining the journey was going to be like that all the way! But it started to level out and eventually I reached Mangaroa Tunnel. 

After that things settled down as I followed the Old Railway Line section. Another signpost at an intersection takes you out onto the old road, until you find the signpost for the car park. So I had made it to Kaitoke - this part of the journey took about an hour.

Entrance to Tunnel Gully 

On the Pine tree-lined trail

Mangaroa Tunnel to the Old Railway Line

Intersection with directions onto the old road

To the Car Park and start of the trail