NZR H class | |
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H 199 in the Fell Engine Museum, 20 March 2002. | |
Power type | Steam |
Builder | Avonside Engine Co., England (4) Neilson & Co., Scotland (2) |
Serial number | Avonside 1072–1075 Neilson 3468–3469 |
Build date | 1875 (4) 1886 (2) |
Configuration | 0-4-2T |
Gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge |
Wheel diameter | 32 inches (81 cm) driving 23.5 inches (60 cm) adhesion |
Wheelbase | 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) |
Length | 24 ft 1 in (7.3 m) |
Width | 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) |
Weight on drivers | 26.0 long tons (26.4 t) |
Locomotive weight | 34.0 long tons (34.5 t) |
Fuel type | Coal |
Fuel capacity | 0.5 long tons (0.51 t) |
Water capacity | 714 imp gal (3,250 L) |
Boiler pressure | 130 psi (900 kPa) |
Firegrate area | 13.0 sq ft (1.2 m2) |
Heating surface: Total |
858 sq ft (79.7 m2) |
Cylinders | Four total two driving, two adhesion |
Cylinder size | 14 in × 16 in (36 cm × 41 cm) driving 12 in × 14 in (30 cm × 36 cm) adhesion |
Valve gear | Stephenson (199 - 202) Joy (203 - 204) |
Top speed | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
Tractive effort | 12,550 lbf (55.8 kN) driving 11,000 lbf (49 kN) adhesion |
Number in class | 6 |
Number | 199 – 204 |
Locale | Rimutaka Incline, Wairarapa, North Island |
First run | 1878 |
Last run | 29 October 1955 |
Retired | March 1956 |
Preserved | One (H 199) |
Restored | 1981 - 1989 |
Scrapped | 1956 |
Current owner | Fell Engine Museum |
Disposition | 5 scrapped 1 preserved |
The NZR H class locomotive was a unique class of locomotive used by the New Zealand Railways Department on the famous Rimutaka Incline, the three-mile section of 1 in 15 gradient between Cross Creek and Summit, over the Rimutaka Ranges. The locomotives worked on the Fell mountain railway system and had four horizontal driving wheels between the frames, gripping a centre rail and providing the extra adhesion needed for the climb. The outside engines drove the rear pair of coupled wheels of 32" diameter, and the inside cylinders four spring-loaded grip wheels of 22" diameter. On the descent, powerful hand-brakes bore against the centre rail, and brake vans with similar braking gear were interspersed at intervals in the train. The locomotives were never required to run at speeds higher than 15 mph, and their usual operating speed was between four and six mph ascending the incline, about ten mph descending.
Contents |
After the Second World War, the locomotives were starting to show their age, and the New Zealand government was looking for a way to cut time between Wellington and the Wairarapa. On 7 May 1951, the contract to construct the 8.8-kilometre (5.5 mi) Rimutaka Tunnel was let, which spelled the imminent end of the incline, and the need for the H class.
The last revenue service for the H class was on 29 October 1955, when locomotives 199, 201, 202, 203 and 204 hauled a Carterton Show day excursion train up the incline on the return journey to Wellington. When the Rimutaka Tunnel opened five days later, the engines were put to work dismantling the incline that they had travelled on for 77 years.
All the locomotives were officially withdrawn in March 1956, and all except H 199 were then towed to Silverstream in Upper Hutt and broken up for scrap.
At the opening ceremony for the Rimutaka Tunnel on 3 November 1955, the then Minister of Railways John McAlpine gifted locomotive H 199 to the town of Featherston. Following dismantling the incline, H 199 was stored at Woburn for three years, before being moved through the Rimutaka Tunnel to Featherston. The locomotive was placed on a concrete plinth in a children's playground.
Over the years, exposure to the elements and vandalism had deteriorated the locomotive's condition. In 1980, the Friends of the Fell Society was formed with the intention of restoring H 199 for static display. Restoration began in 1981, and in 1984, the locomotive was moved into the new Fell Engine Museum adjacent to the playground. The restoration of the locomotive was completed in 1989.
Key: | In service | Out of service | Auckland Transport service | Preserved | Overhaul | Scrapped |
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Number | Builder | Introduced[1] | Withdrawn[1] | Notes |
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199 | Avonside | January 1, 1877 | March 1956 | Originally H 1 and named Mont Cenis Preserved on static display at Fell Engine Museum, Featherston |
200 | Avonside | October 16, 1878 | March 1956 | Originally H 2 and named Mount Cook Scrapped at Silverstream in 1956 |
201 | Avonside | October 17, 1878 | March 1956 | Originally H 3 and named Mount Egmont Scrapped at Silverstream in 1956 |
202 | Avonside | October 18, 1878 | March 1956 | Originally H 4 and named Mount Tongariro Scrapped at Silverstream in 1956 |
203 | Neilson | November 1, 1886 | March 1956 | Scrapped at Silverstream in 1956 |
204 | Neilson | August 9, 1886 | March 1956 | Scrapped at Silverstream in 1956 |