Fell Brake Van [F 210]
Maker and role
New Zealand Government Rail, Manufacturer
Production date
1898
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1971.207
Production period
Description
Fell brake van used on central rail track. The van was used to assist breaking for descending trains.
Brief History
F 210 is the last surviving, 14 foot, 4-wheeled "Fell" brake van. It was one of two vans built at The Petone Railway Workshops in 1898 (11 vans of this type were built between 1895 and 1943). It was allocated to the Wellington section for use on the incline between Featherston and Waitoki. There were a number of these special brake vans employed on each train to assist with the braking on the downward journey on the Rimutaka incline. The vans were positioned at various intervals along a train, usually every third or fourth vehicle depending on tonnage. F 210 was in regular service until the closure of the incline on 29th October 1955, when it was used on the last scheduled train to go over the hill. It required 5 of the small H locomotives to lift to the summit and F 210, along with other vans, were evenly spaced throughout the train to slow its descent to Cross Creek. After the closure of the Rimutaka Incline, F 210 was moved for service at the Rewanui Incline near Greymouth where it remained until it was withdrawn. It is on a long term loan to the Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston where is has been restored and put on dislay.
Media/Materials
Credit Line
New Zealand Government Rail. 1898. Fell Brake Van [F 210], 1971.207. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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