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Trains & Railways

Fell Locomotive Museum

📍 Featherston, Wellington

4.7(215 Google reviews)💰$2-$15👶5+

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.

last Fell locomotiveknowledgeable volunteersmodel train layoutsdocumentary screeningRimutaka Incline historytoy trains for kids
★★★★★Featured review by Neil Baudinet

Well worth a visit to find out how they used to get the freight and passengers up the Remutuka Incline.

🏆 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

💡Engage the volunteers directly — their knowledge of the Rimutaka Incline history goes far beyond the displays
The museum is reachable by train from Wellington — a practical option for a car-free day trip to Featherston
🎟️Allow at least 90 minutes if volunteers are in full storytelling mode — the documentary and model layouts add time beyond the locomotive itself
🚗The heritage museum next door is a separate entity with its own entry — check if you want to visit both

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.7

215 Google reviews

Unique locomotive and history45%
Volunteer storytelling35%
Model layouts and displays20%
N

Neil Baudinet

a month ago

Well worth a visit to find out how they used to get the freight and passengers up the Remutuka Incline.

E

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😁

A

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.

S

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!

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.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday10:00 – 16:00
Sunday10:00 – 16:00

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