All our video products are classified for General Exhibition.
Quality Railway Videos and Documentaries
Rimutaka Incline
One 3 ft 6 in. gauge train with ten engines in five locomotives, and they are not Garratts or Mallets. Sixty ton locomotives with an effective adhesion of 90 tons. All sounds very conflicting until we realise New Zealand's famous Rimutaka incline was the home of the world's last Fell locomotives. Under each Fell locomotive, located between the frames, was a second engine which drove 4 horizontal wheels which pressed against a raised third rail between the running rails. These horizontal wheels were not the same size as the others, which gave an unusual exhaust beat. Add this to the steep grades of the Rimutaka Mountains, good photography, and clear commentary and the result is an excellent videotape.
The Rimutaka incline operated continuously for 77 years climbing 1000 ft in 3 miles, until a tunnel replaced it. There are scenes from the lineside, on board, and taken in front, of the trains in service with good clear sound. The speed of a train with five locos is seen to be about walking pace! We are also shown a Fell railmotor operating. Interspersed are recent views of the area, very interesting interviews with three surviving employees, a fitter, a driver and a fireman, who give vivid recollections of work on the line. The world's only remaining Fell locomotive is in the Fell Engine Museum at Featherston, and this is covered, its wheels slowly turning, with excellent views of the 3rd rail engine etc.
The videotape is very well put together, with hi-fi stereo sound track. PQ A + B for old scenes. '