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The NZR T class was a class of steam locomotive used in New Zealand. It was the first class built by Baldwin to operate in New Zealand. Based on a design already used for the Denver and Rio Grande, it was much less decorative than the Rogers K class that had immediately preceded it, utilised a wheel arrangement of 2-8-0, and although it was very powerful for its day, it was typically limited to a speed of 29 km/h (18 mph). This meant that it was usually assigned to freight trains and was generally seen working on the Otago Central Railway and steeper parts of the Main South Line such as the route between Dunedin and Oamaru. The class was introduced in early 1880 after being ordered in 1879 and consisted of six members. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the class received new boilers and two were moved north to Auckland to assist on the new North Island Main Trunk. As time progressed, the T class progressively lost work to more powerful, newer locomotives, with the four South Island-based members of the class (103-106) known to have been relegated to the quiet, lowly trafficked Tokarahi Branch. The T locomotives ended their days shunting major yards and none survived to be preserved and all members of the class were scrapped or dumped. The first two to be withdrawn were T 101 and T 104 in March 1922, and the other four followed in March 1928. A T class locomotive is known to exist at a locomotive dump near Mount White, although its the frame cannot be located, and a T class boiler at the Bealey river dump is known to have made its way into the main river channel and buried itself.
[edit] Reference
- Heath, Eric, and Stott, Bob; Classic Steam Locomotives Of New Zealand, Grantham House, 1993
