NZR J class (1874)

The NZR J class were steam locomotives with the wheel arrangement of 2-6-0 that were built in 1874 to operate on the New Zealand Railways (NZR). The J class was the first class of locomotive in New Zealand to have a tender; all previous classes were tank engines.[2]

Not to be confused with NZR J class (1939).

NZR J class
J class steam locomotive, NZR 118, 2-6-0 type. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.[1]
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAvonside Engine Co. (6),
Neilson & Co. (5),
Robert Stephenson & Co. (5),
Dübs & Co. (4),
Vulcan Foundry (13)
Serial numberAvonside 1038–1043;
Dübs 1212–1215;
Neilson 2060–264;
RS 2367–2361;
VF 998–1009, 1076
Build date1874 (6), 1879 (10), 1883 (12), 1884 (1)
Total produced33
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-0
 • UIC1'C
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.42 in (1.067 m)
Length41 ft 0 1⁄2 in (12.51 m)
Adhesive weight17.5 long tons (17.8 t; 19.6 short tons)
Loco weight21.0 long tons (21.3 t; 23.5 short tons)
Tender weight17.0 long tons (17.3 t; 19.0 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity3.0 long tons (3.0 t; 3.4 short tons)
Water cap1,150 imperial gallons (5,200 l; 1,380 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		12 sq ft (1.1 m2)
Boiler pressure130 psi (0.90 MPa)
Heating surface683 sq ft (63.5 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size14 in × 20 in (356 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,707 lbf (43.18 kN)
Career
OperatorsNew Zealand Government Railways
ClassJ
Withdrawn1919–1935
Disposition1 lost at sea during delivery, 4 rebuilt to WA class, remainder dumped

Introduction

The first batch built consisted of six locomotives built by the Avonside Engine Company and they entered service in 1874 in Canterbury. Ten more were built in 1879, with a dozen more from Vulcan Foundry in 1883. However, one was lost at sea while being delivered,[3] and a replacement was built the following year.

Service

They spread beyond Canterbury and could also be found working in Auckland, Waikato, and Hawke's Bay. The J class worked well whether it was pulling a long goods train or operating important passenger services in the early days of the Main South Line, but as traffic increased, it was superseded by more powerful locomotives and in 1917-18, four members of the class were converted to 2-6-2 tank engines (the NZR WA class) to perform shunting duties in yards.[4]

Withdrawals

By 1935, all 32 original J class locomotives had reached the end of their usefulness and were discarded, and none survived to be preserved.[4]

Surviving relics

Although none were preserved, relics of J class locomotives can still be seen to this day at sites where NZR dumped withdrawn equipment. A locomotive dump at Oamaru had five J class engines dumped there, Js 15, 82, 83, 116, and 117, although most of these were removed from the seawall by protection works carried out by ONTRACK in 2008—2009. This dump was also the location of WA 120, which was one of the J's rebuilt as tank engines. Elsewhere, J 61 was dumped without cylinders at Branxholme and other miscellaneous components, large and small were dumped in other dump site locations.

References
  1. "J class steam locomotive, NZR 118, 2-6-0 type". Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949: Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-0251-1/2-G.
  2. Garner, John. "New Zealand Railways Class J". Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Hudson, Mike; Atkins, Philip (September 2007). "Locos lost at sea, the all-time definitive record". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 153 no. 1277. IPC Media. pp. 14–19. ISSN 0033-8923.
  4. Palmer & Stewart 1965, p. 35.

Bibliography
  • Heath, Eric; Stott, Bob (1993). Classic Steam Locomotives Of New Zealand. Grantham House. ISBN 1869340361.
  • Palmer, A. N.; Stewart, W. W. (1965). Cavalcade of New Zealand Locomotives. Wellington: A H. & A W. Reed. ISBN 978-0-207-94500-7.
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