NZR WG class
The NZR WG class was a development of the preceding WF class of all purpose tank locomotive. Later in their careers most (14) were rebuilt as WW class.[1] The locomotives were designed by A. L. Beattie, who described them as a "large tank locomotive."[2]
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 WG No. 492, Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In service
The locomotives were used on suburban trains in Wellington and Auckland.[2]
Rimutaka Incline
WG 480 was built by New Zealand Railways at Hillside (maker's no 104/10), went into service in October 1910. It was altered for use on the Rimutaka Incline to assist the "Fell" locomotives cope with the military traffic to and from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces training camp at Featherston. The cowcatchers were altered to clear the high Fell centre rail, and it had an acetylene headlamp arranged to follow the alignment of the track on curves. Written off in June 1969, and preserved at Glenbrook.[3]
Withdrawals
All of the locomotives were withdrawn by 1956.[2]
References
- Lloyd 1974, p. 64.
- Palmer & Stewart 1965, p. 100.
- "Steam locomotive 480, Wg class (4-6-4T type)". Alexander Turnbull Library. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
Bibliography
- Palmer, A. N.; Stewart, W. W. (1965). Cavalcade of New Zealand Locomotives. Wellington: A H. & A W. Reed. ISBN 978-0-207-94500-7.
- Lloyd, W. G. (1974). Register of New Zealand Railways Steam Locomotives 1863-1971 (2nd ed.). ISBN 0-9582072-1-6.
- Stewart, W. W. (1974). When Steam was King. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. ISBN 978-0-589-00382-1.