NZR La class
Encyclopedia
The NZR
LA class was a class of steam locomotive
s used by the New Zealand Railways Department
and the New Zealand Midland Railway Company
. They were built by Nasmyth, Wilson and Company in 1887 for New Zealand Midland Railway Company, and were taken over by NZR in 1900, when the government acquired the incomplete Midland line
. Three of the locomotives were named - Reefton, Christchurch
and Nelson
. Three of the remaining seven L 2-4-0T's were rebuilt to 4-4-0T La's, then lately it was decided to rebuilt them further to 4-4-2T's and the four unrebuilt 2-4-0T's were rebuilt to 4-4-2T's and the other three 4-4-0's were rebuilt to 4-4-2T. Three brand news locos were also built to the 4-4-2T arrangement. Once all were rebuilt to 4-4-2T the La classification was dropped and all revered to L. L class locomotives were later rebuilt as LA class also.
The former NZMR La's differed slightly from the NZR rebuilds. Two of these locos were used in industrial service, while the other three were scrapped, its reported that two were dumped in the Grey River. One has been recovered and is located in Springfield, Canterbury.
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
LA class was a class of steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s used by the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
and the New Zealand Midland Railway Company
New Zealand Midland Railway Company
The New Zealand Midland Railway Company partially constructed the Midland line between Christchurch and Greymouth and the Nelson railway in the South Island...
. They were built by Nasmyth, Wilson and Company in 1887 for New Zealand Midland Railway Company, and were taken over by NZR in 1900, when the government acquired the incomplete Midland line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
. Three of the locomotives were named - Reefton, 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 Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
. Three of the remaining seven L 2-4-0T's were rebuilt to 4-4-0T La's, then lately it was decided to rebuilt them further to 4-4-2T's and the four unrebuilt 2-4-0T's were rebuilt to 4-4-2T's and the other three 4-4-0's were rebuilt to 4-4-2T. Three brand news locos were also built to the 4-4-2T arrangement. Once all were rebuilt to 4-4-2T the La classification was dropped and all revered to L. L class locomotives were later rebuilt as LA class also.
The former NZMR La's differed slightly from the NZR rebuilds. Two of these locos were used in industrial service, while the other three were scrapped, its reported that two were dumped in the Grey River. One has been recovered and is located in Springfield, Canterbury.