| NZR LA Class | |
|---|---|
| Opening of the Midland line to Stillwater junction, 1889. NZMRC No. 3 (LA 312) is pictured. | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Nasmyth, Wilson & Co., (5 new) Avonside Engine Company (rebuilt L) |
| Serial number | 311–312, 315, 322–323 |
| Build date | 1887 |
| Configuration | 4-4-0T; later 4-4-2T |
| Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Length | 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 26.6 tons |
| Tractive effort | 7,853 lbf (34.93 kN) |
| Number in class | 13 |
| Number | NZMRC 1–5 NZR 310–314 |
| Retired | 1924–1926 |
The NZR LA class was a class of steam locomotives 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.