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NZR K class (1877)
Encyclopedia
The NZR Rogers K class was the first example of American-built locomotives to be used on New Zealand's railways
. Their success coloured locomotive development in New Zealand until the end of steam.
locomotives which were of an English design, however Mr Smith was adamant American locomotives would be much more suitable for New Zealand's conditions. His argument won, an order was placed with the Rogers Locomotive Works
of New Jersey
, for two tender locomotives with a wheel arrangement of 2-4-2
. Upon their arrival to New Zealand the locomotives created quite a stir with their bar frames, 'Gothic' style wooden cabs, locomotive bell, ornate embellishments and rakish appearances which were at odds with the traditional English locomotive appearance in New Zealand at the time. In addition this first pair, K 87 "Lincoln" and K 88 "Washington", reputedly wore a 'kaleidoscope' of colours - green, blue, yellow, red, purple, and gold in addition to their Russian Iron boiler jackets.
-carriage passenger train, and both the locomotives soon earned a reputation as fast and free runners, with mild coal consumption. K 88 "Washington" hauled the first train between Christchurch
and Dunedin
on the just-completed Main South Line
, assisted by the Double Fairlie
"Josephine" south of Oamaru until "Josephine" had to be taken off the train due to mechanical issues - caused by how K 88 was being driven by its driver. Having proven their worth, 6 more of the class was ordered from the Rogers Locomotive Works
, numbered from 92 through 97. These locomotives also entered service in the South Island and contained almost no differences to the first two, albeit they weren't given names and there is no record of them wearing the "kaleidoscope" livery (it is likely K 87 & K 88 had been repainted by this time also).
As more powerful locomotives arrived on the railway system, increasingly of American origin, the K Class became relegated from the top expresses and cascaded down to express trains on secondary lines. Two of the K's, K 93 & K 96, were transferred to the North Island during this time. Beginning just after 1900 the class started receiving new NZR-built boilers to replace their Rogers-built wagon-top boilers. The South Island locomotives gained boilers of a Belpaire
design, while the North Island pair received round-top boilers. All the new boilers were pressed to 160psi, an increase over the original boiler's 130psi. By this time all the locomotives had received Westinghouse brake equipment also. It was during this time that some of the K Class, having been relegated to the Kingston-Gore branch, began earning a reputation for the Kingston-Invercargill express train which earned the name "Kingston Flyer
".
came up with ambitious plans to restore it back to working order. Beginning in 1976, they achieved this goal in 1982 proving that the restoration of exhumed locomotives was possible. However in 1986 the boiler of K 88 (which had been in the river with it) was condemned, and it was not until 2001 that K 88 was once again in working order, this time with an all new Belpaire
-style all-welded boiler and wearing a version of the 'kaleidoscope' colours.
The other two locomotives exhumed so far are K 94, exhumed by Plains Railway
in 1986 but is currently stored in its recovered state with no active plans for restoration; and K 92, recovered in 1985 for a railway venture on the shores of Te Anau
. Restored in Dunedin, the venture fell through before the locomotive had been fully completed, and subsequently the locomotive was put up for sale. Purchased by Colin Smith in 1998, the locomotive's restoration was completed and it is intended to recreate the old "Kingston Flyer" trains of the early 1900s at the Waimea Plains Railway
. While waiting for the railway to be completed, K 92 has visited a number of railways in the South Island, with some of the more notable visits being those to the Kingston Flyer
, an old haunt for K 92 and where it triple headed with the two AB Class
locos resident there; and also a visit to Plains Railway
, home of K 88 "Washington" where both locos were used together extensively.
The Rogers K class should not be confused with the K class
constructed in 1932.
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
. Their success coloured locomotive development in New Zealand until the end of steam.
History
In 1877, the new Chief Mechanical Engineer of the NZR, Allison D. Smith required some new motive power for the fledgling Government system. It had been intended to order more J ClassNZR J class (1874)
The J class were steam locomotives with the wheel arrangement of 2-6-0 that were built in 1874 to operate on the railway network of New Zealand. They should not be confused with the more famous J class of 1939...
locomotives which were of an English design, however Mr Smith was adamant American locomotives would be much more suitable for New Zealand's conditions. His argument won, an order was placed with the Rogers Locomotive Works
Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works
Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works was a 19th-century manufacturer of railroad steam locomotives based in Paterson, in Passaic County, New Jersey, in the United States. It built more than six thousand steam locomotives for railroads around the world. Most railroads in 19th-century United States...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, for two tender locomotives with a wheel arrangement of 2-4-2
2-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
. Upon their arrival to New Zealand the locomotives created quite a stir with their bar frames, 'Gothic' style wooden cabs, locomotive bell, ornate embellishments and rakish appearances which were at odds with the traditional English locomotive appearance in New Zealand at the time. In addition this first pair, K 87 "Lincoln" and K 88 "Washington", reputedly wore a 'kaleidoscope' of colours - green, blue, yellow, red, purple, and gold in addition to their Russian Iron boiler jackets.
The K Class in service
After arrival in the South Island at Lyttelton, the locomotives were quickly put into service. K 87 "Lincoln" quickly distinguished itself by hauling the first bogieBogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
-carriage passenger train, and both the locomotives soon earned a reputation as fast and free runners, with mild coal consumption. K 88 "Washington" hauled the first train between Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
on the just-completed Main South Line
Main South Line
The Main South Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is a railroad line that runs north and south from Lyttelton in New Zealand through Christchurch and along the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin...
, assisted by the Double Fairlie
NZR E class (1872)
The NZR E class of Double Fairlie steam locomotives were two different types of Fairlie locomotive, and were the first classes to take that designation, followed by the E class Mallet compound locomotive of 1906 and then the E class battery electric locomotive of 1922...
"Josephine" south of Oamaru until "Josephine" had to be taken off the train due to mechanical issues - caused by how K 88 was being driven by its driver. Having proven their worth, 6 more of the class was ordered from the Rogers Locomotive Works
Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works
Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works was a 19th-century manufacturer of railroad steam locomotives based in Paterson, in Passaic County, New Jersey, in the United States. It built more than six thousand steam locomotives for railroads around the world. Most railroads in 19th-century United States...
, numbered from 92 through 97. These locomotives also entered service in the South Island and contained almost no differences to the first two, albeit they weren't given names and there is no record of them wearing the "kaleidoscope" livery (it is likely K 87 & K 88 had been repainted by this time also).
As more powerful locomotives arrived on the railway system, increasingly of American origin, the K Class became relegated from the top expresses and cascaded down to express trains on secondary lines. Two of the K's, K 93 & K 96, were transferred to the North Island during this time. Beginning just after 1900 the class started receiving new NZR-built boilers to replace their Rogers-built wagon-top boilers. The South Island locomotives gained boilers of a Belpaire
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
design, while the North Island pair received round-top boilers. All the new boilers were pressed to 160psi, an increase over the original boiler's 130psi. By this time all the locomotives had received Westinghouse brake equipment also. It was during this time that some of the K Class, having been relegated to the Kingston-Gore branch, began earning a reputation for the Kingston-Invercargill express train which earned the name "Kingston Flyer
Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. It uses 14 kilometres of preserved trackage that once formed a part of the Kingston Branch.-History:...
".
Withdrawal and disposal
The days of the K Class in service were over during the 1920s. Both the North Island examples, plus K 87 "Lincoln" had been withdrawn as early as 1922. The others managed to linger on for a few more years yet, with the last two, K 92 and K 95, not withdrawn until 1927. As was customary at the time, the locomotives were set aside pending disposal, whatever form that may have taken. All remaining South Island class members lasted long enough to be dumped as embankment protection, something which began in 1926.Preservation
Three of the Rogers K Class have so far been exhumed and entered into Preservation. The first and most notable of these locomotives is K 88 "Washington", which was exhumed from its river grave by the Southland Vintage Car Club in 1974. There were a number of loose plans regarding the locomotive's future but these came to nothing. The locomotive wreck was threatened with being pushed back into the river until the Plains RailwayPlains Vintage Railway
The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed...
came up with ambitious plans to restore it back to working order. Beginning in 1976, they achieved this goal in 1982 proving that the restoration of exhumed locomotives was possible. However in 1986 the boiler of K 88 (which had been in the river with it) was condemned, and it was not until 2001 that K 88 was once again in working order, this time with an all new Belpaire
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
-style all-welded boiler and wearing a version of the 'kaleidoscope' colours.
The other two locomotives exhumed so far are K 94, exhumed by Plains Railway
Plains Vintage Railway
The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed...
in 1986 but is currently stored in its recovered state with no active plans for restoration; and K 92, recovered in 1985 for a railway venture on the shores of Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
. Restored in Dunedin, the venture fell through before the locomotive had been fully completed, and subsequently the locomotive was put up for sale. Purchased by Colin Smith in 1998, the locomotive's restoration was completed and it is intended to recreate the old "Kingston Flyer" trains of the early 1900s at the Waimea Plains Railway
Waimea Plains Railway
The Waimea Plains Railway was a secondary railway line that linked the towns of Lumsden and Gore in northern Southland, New Zealand...
. While waiting for the railway to be completed, K 92 has visited a number of railways in the South Island, with some of the more notable visits being those to the Kingston Flyer
Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. It uses 14 kilometres of preserved trackage that once formed a part of the Kingston Branch.-History:...
, an old haunt for K 92 and where it triple headed with the two AB Class
NZR Ab class
The NZR AB class was a class of 4-6-2 Pacific tender steam locomotive that operated on New Zealand's national railway system. Originally an improvement on the 1906 A class, 141 were built between 1915 and 1927 by NZR's Addington Workshops, A & G Price Limited of Thames, New Zealand, and North...
locos resident there; and also a visit to Plains Railway
Plains Vintage Railway
The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed...
, home of K 88 "Washington" where both locos were used together extensively.
List of locomotives
| Key: | In Service | Leased to ARTA | Withdrawn | Preserved | Under Repair | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Builder's Number | Entered service | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2455 | Named "Lincoln" after Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and... . Boiler appears to have gone to Oxford Boiler Dump, 1926. Tender dumped at the Bealey 1926?, frame reputed to have been dumped there also. |
||
| 88 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2454 | Named "Washington" after George Washington George Washington George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of... . Dumped in the Oreti River Oreti River The Oreti River is one of the main rivers of Southland, New Zealand, and is 170 kilometres in length.The Oreti has its headwaters close to the Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, and flows south across the Southland Plains to its outflow into Foveaux Strait at the southeastern end... , 1928. Recovered by Southland Vintage Car Club 1974, restoration begun by Plains Vintage Railway Plains Vintage Railway The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed... in 1976. In service. |
||
| 92 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2468 | Dumped at Mararoa Junction, 1928? Recovered by Fiordland Vintage Machinery Museum & restored Dunedin. Sold to Colin Smith, 1998, for Waimea Plains Railway Waimea Plains Railway The Waimea Plains Railway was a secondary railway line that linked the towns of Lumsden and Gore in northern Southland, New Zealand... . |
||
| 93 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2469 | Dumped at Westfield, 1929? Possibly exhumed in 1930's and sent to Japan as scrap. | ||
| 94 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2470 | Dumped in the Oreti River Oreti River The Oreti River is one of the main rivers of Southland, New Zealand, and is 170 kilometres in length.The Oreti has its headwaters close to the Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, and flows south across the Southland Plains to its outflow into Foveaux Strait at the southeastern end... , 1928. Recovered 1986 by Plains Vintage Railway Plains Vintage Railway The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed... , stored. |
||
| 95 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2471 | Dumped in the Oreti River Oreti River The Oreti River is one of the main rivers of Southland, New Zealand, and is 170 kilometres in length.The Oreti has its headwaters close to the Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, and flows south across the Southland Plains to its outflow into Foveaux Strait at the southeastern end... , 1928. Tender from this loco now attached to K 88 with new tender body - wheels possibly at Plains Railway Plains Vintage Railway The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed... also. |
||
| 96 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2473 | Dumped at Westfield, 1929? Possibly exhumed in 1930's and sent to Japan as scrap. | ||
| 97 | Rogers Locomotive Works | 2474 | K 97 - Dumped in the Oreti River Oreti River The Oreti River is one of the main rivers of Southland, New Zealand, and is 170 kilometres in length.The Oreti has its headwaters close to the Mavora Lakes between Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu, and flows south across the Southland Plains to its outflow into Foveaux Strait at the southeastern end... , 1928. Wheels possibly at Plains Railway Plains Vintage Railway The Plains Vintage Railway is a heritage railway near Ashburton, New Zealand that operates on three kilometres of trackage that was once part of the Mount Somers Branch before it closed... . |
The Rogers K class should not be confused with the K class
NZR K class (1932)
The NZR K class of 1932 was a class of mixed traffic 4-8-4 steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's railway network. The locomotives were developed following the failure of the G class Garratts...
constructed in 1932.