1 / 2Fell Locomotive Museum
📍 Featherston, Wellington
Featherston's Fell Locomotive Museum houses H199 Mont Cenis — the sole survivor of six specialised locomotives that climbed the Rimutaka Incline. Includes a documentary screening, scale model layouts, and volunteer storytellers.
Way back more than 100 years ago. This place is superb, I really love it. Even though I don't really like history, this place and a lovely staff makes me love it. The museum is awesome. You get to see the real last fell Locomotive. Get to watch a documentary. It's very specific. They also get some fun stuff for kids😍 highly recommended. They have entrance fee but the experience is worth more than that, the staff is so friendly and amazing. They get clean toilet too. The road to the place is adventurous for me😁
🏆 Family Action Verdict
A compact museum that consistently surprises visitors who expect little. The volunteer storytellers are the core of the experience — the story of how these locomotives actually worked is specific, dramatic, and memorable. Children leave knowing what a Fell locomotive did; adults leave wanting to visit Cross Creek.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →216 Google reviews
Elna Baguya
2 years ago
“Way back more than 100 years ago. This place is superb, I really love it. Even though I don't really like history, this place and a lovely staff makes me love it. The museum is awesome. You get to see the real last fell Locomotive. Get to watch a documentary. It's very specific. They also get some fun stuff for kids😍 highly recommended. They have entrance fee but the experience is worth more than that, the staff is so friendly and amazing. They get clean toilet too. The road to the place is adventurous for me😁”
AJ Wilson
2 years ago
“Well worth the small charge of $7 an adult, $2 child over 5. Volunteer was extremely knowledgeable. There is so much history. The Fell Locomotive is the only one left out of the six used. This is a must visit for anyone ousting through. There is also the heritage museum next door but separate identity with another door charge. It's based alot on the military camp.”
Steve Warne
a year ago
“Surprisingly interesting story of the trains that climbed from Featherston over the Rimutaka hill. The locos are unique and there's an interesting documentary to see with model train layouts of the trains and stations. Volunteers are available to provide more details and stories but be warned, they are unstoppable!”
Hamish Bell
2 years ago
“An excellent museum with a great tribute to some local railway history. Really want to go up and visit Cross Creek now. Very knowledgeable staff and some toy trains to keep the kids occupied. The only thing I'd say is that it could be laid out a bit more effectively to better tell the story.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Fell Locomotive Museum preserves H199 Mont Cenis, the only surviving example of six specialised locomotives that gripped a centre rail with horizontal wheels to climb the Rimutaka Incline. Knowledgeable volunteers share detailed operational stories — reviewers warn they are hard to leave once you get them talking. A documentary screening and scale model train layouts add depth. Toy trains keep younger children occupied.
