The Rimutaka Incline was a 3-mile (5-km) stretch of steeply-graded line between Summit and Cross Creek on the original Wairarapa railway line between Wellington and Masterton in New Zealand. Because of financial constraints, the railway between Upper Hutt and Featherston followed steep gradients to climb over the Rimutaka Ranges, rather than passing through a long rail tunnel as it does today. The Fell centre-rail system was selected for the steeply-graded (1 in 15) incline and all trains were either hauled or retarded by up to five specially built class H steam locomotives and a similar number of special brake vans. The Fell system was also fitted to the Roa and Rewanui Inclines on the South Island West Coast for braking purposes only. The Wairarapa is a district or subregion of New Zealand occupying the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of Wellington and south-west of Hawke Bay. ... Alternative meanings at Wellington (disambiguation) A view of Wellington from the top of Mount Victoria. ... Masterton is the largest town (and local government district) in the Wairarapa region in the southeastern North Island of New Zealand. ... Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington, New Zealand. ... The town of Featherston is in the south of the North Island of New Zealand, east of Wellington, just east of the Rimutaka Tunnel, in the South Wairarapa District. ... The Rimutaka Range (often referred to as the Rimutaka Ranges) is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington. ... Great Western Railway No. ... South Island The South Island forms one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island. ...

The Wairarapa line was at that time the only New Zealand Railways route out of Wellington, as the present North Island Main Trunk route along the western coast of the North Island was owned and operated by the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway company until 1908. The Wairarapa line thus had a crucial importance to the national rail network for some years, even though it was not possible to travel via this line through to other parts of the government system until 1897. However, after 1908 the line acquired a secondary status and this was one of the reasons why the unique but costly incline remained in service until 1955. The western North Island Main Trunk route received extensive improvements from the 1920s onwards but the Wairarapa railway languished until construction on the new railway tunnel and deviation began in the late 1940s. On 30 October 1955 the 5-km incline and the other 34 km of associated track closed, and the new line opened on 3 November. The NIMT is the railway line connecting Auckland and Wellington, the two major cities of New Zealands North Island. ... The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... The Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) was a railway between Thorndon in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, and Longburn, near the town of Palmerston North, in the Manawatu. ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties. // Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy gun John Logie Baird invents the first working television system (1925) Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to fly... // Events and trends The 1940s were dominated by World War II, the most destructive armed conflict in history. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ...

The old line was then dismantled and four of the five locomotives were scrapped, H 199 surviving on public display in Featherston. A museum was formed in the 1980s to preserve, restore and properly display this historic exhibit. Parts of the old line were preserved for water board purposes and can be accessed today for recreation as the Rimutaka Rail Trail. The two other lines continued to operate the Fell system: Roa closed in 1960 and the Fell rail was removed from Rewanui in 1968. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

In 2003 the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust was formed with the objective of reinstating a heritage railway on the abandoned formation and its access routes. Many challenges face this project, including formation rehabilitation works, the laying of new track, diversion of the Rimutaka Rail Trail, which includes the whole of the Incline, and construction of new Fell locomotives. Planning and negotiations are progressing well, and the Trust is optimistic in commencing construction towards the end of 2005. 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Rail Trail is popular for mountain biking and walking, and these uses are proposed to be catered for by a diversion of the trail, located for the most part a short distance uphill of the railway. Mountain biking is an exciting sport that involves riding bicycles anywhere off paved roads. ...