New Zealand TR class locomotive

New Zealand TR class

NZR built TR 874 at Dunedin in 2013.

Bagnall built TR 156 at Ferrymead.
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-Mechanical/Hydraulic
Builder Drewry Car Co (29), A & G Price (41), W G Bagnall (7), Hitachi (6), NZR, Hillside Workshops (9), Muir-Hill (4), Hudswell Clarke (3), FC Hibbert (2), Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (5)
Build date 1936-78
Specifications
AAR wheel arr. 0-4-0, 0-6-0
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Locomotive weight 9.4–20.8 t (9.3–20.5 long tons; 10.4–22.9 short tons)
Prime mover Detroit 4-71, Gardner 8LW, Gardner 6L3, Gardner 6LW, McLaren M6, Gardner 6LX, Cummins 6 cyl
Performance figures
Maximum speed 24–40 km/h (15–25 mph)
Career
Operator(s) NZGR, New Zealand Railways Corporation, Tranz Rail, Toll Rail, KiwiRail
Number in class 90
Number(s) TMS numbers: 10-1026
Road numbers: 1-222
Nicknames "Rosie" (TR 107), "Timmy" (TR 163), "Tonka Toy" (TR 534)
First run 1936
Disposition 32 in service; 1 out of service; 36 preserved, 32 scrapped, 1 in service for an industrial use.

The New Zealand TR class is a class of diesel shunting locomotives built by many different manufacturers. Many of these locomotives have been withdrawn, but some are still in service. The first locomotives of this class were built by the Muir-Hill in 1924. The most powerful were Japanese-built Hitachi TRs, with 138 kW Cummins engines.

Manufacturers

Drewry Car Co., UK

The original batch of six 0-4-0 TRs, 13-18, supplied in 1936 by the Drewry Car Co., was supplemented by TR 20-22 and 30-36 in 1939-40. These were powered by Parsons petrol engines. In 1939-40 seven 0-6-0 TRs (the only ones of this type), 23-29, were supplied and were fitted with Leyland 10-litre (610 cu in) petrol engines Wairarapa railcars. Finally, in 1950 five 0-4-0 TRs, 60-64, with diesel engines were introduced. The locomotives were built at various UK works including Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns. Practically all Drewry TRs are out of service today.

Rebuilds

W. G. Bagnall, UK

W. G. Bagnall built seven TRs in 1956-57. The first five were supplied with McLaren M6 engines, the last two with Gardner 6L3 engines, all with a Self-Changing Gears 4-speed gearbox. The McLaren engines were unsuccessful, so from 1973 TR 150-154 were re-engined with the Gardner 6LX with Twin Disc torque converters. These TRs were the heaviest and one of the more powerful types.

A & G Price, NZ

A&G Price TR 170 (TR 724 TMS)

The long established NZ engineering firm A & G Price of Thames supplied a total of 39 TRs, making them the largest single builder. Four different models were supplied: the Model 3 (TR 100-109), with Gardner 6LW engine and Self Changing Gears 4-speed gearbox; the Model 9 (TR 110-118), powered by a Gardner 6LW engine and Twin Disc torque converter; the Model 4 (TR 157-161), McLaren M6 engine and SCG 4-speed gearbox; and the Model 6 (TR 162-176), engine Gardner 6L3, also SCG 4-speed gearbox. The McLaren engined TRs were re-powered from 1975 with Gardner 6LX engines and the gearbox was replaced with a Twin Disc torque converter.

Hitachi, Japan

Hitachi received an order for six TRs, 177-182, at a time when NZR was turning away from traditional English suppliers and purchasing an increased number of vehicles from Asia. The locomotives were equipped with a Cummins 6-cylinder engine developing 138 kW (185 hp) and Niigata torque converter, making them the most powerful TRs.

NZR Hillside workshops

The last TRs were manufactured by NZR at their Hillside workshops. Up to two were completed each year between 1973 and 1978 (TR 183-191). The design is an unusual (for a TR) centre-cab style with a single Gardner 6LX engine and Rolls Royce torque converter. Standard parts such as DSC class windows were utilised in these TRs.

Operation

The typical role of a TR was at small stations where a normal shunting locomotive was not needed due to light traffic. NZR's operating rules allowed TRs to be driven by staff who were not members of the locomotive branch, saving on wages. Other roles have included railway workshops and depots, and most of the remaining locomotives can still be found at these locations. There are very few stations where they are still in use owing to rationalisations of freight terminals, the trend towards containerisation of traffic, and roving shunting services. A number of locomotives have been leased to industrial operators for private siding use.

The last TR was built in 1978, TR 191. The greatly reduced needs of NZR and its successors for this type of locomotive, and industrial requirements being able to be handled by other ex-NZR classes or locos obtained from elsewhere, has meant no TRs have been added since then. However four locomotives have been reclassified from other types.

The TR classification has been applied to two former industrial locomotives. One of these is TR 81, which was purchased from the Ohai Railway Board in 1955. Built by the Drewry Car Co in the 1930s, it is similar to the first generation 0-4-0 Drewry TRs, but was originally fitted with the Gardner 6LW diesel engine. The other is A&G Price no. 222 which was acquired from Pacific Metal Industries in the early 2000s. It was built in 1968 with a 307 hp (229 kW) diesel engine and is of the 0-6-0 wheel arrangement. Originally reclassified DSA 222 it now carries the number TR 1026 and is leased for industrial use.

In the 1990s, EB 26 at Napier was reclassified as TR 1003 and used in the area for shunting work. The EB class were formerly workshops shunting locomotives. The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum of Ashburton, a heritage railway, also reclassified two former industrial locomotive as TR. Although A & G Price built similar locomotives for NZR, plus a J & F Howard's former Public Works Department shunter no. 936. These locomotives were never owned by New Zealand Railways Department or their successors and thus their TR classification and numbers are historically fictitious.

Liveries

All TRs were introduced in the Midland Red livery, except the 6 Hitachi built locomotives. In the 1970s all of them had back and yellow "Chevron Safety Stripes" painted on their headstocks. In the 1980s all of them were repainted into the "International Orange" livery (orange hoods, yellow ends and grey on the cab). TRs 603 and 920 were repainted in Flying Tomato (long and short hoods and cab red and yellow at each end); six were repainted into the Cato Blue (blue body, grey cab and yellow ends) including 943 that received a "one off" being repainted with a blue short and long hoods, blue at each end and grey on the roof of the cab and on top of the hoods; TR 109 was repainted with back and yellow "Chevron Safety Stripes" on the headstocks and along the running boards with yellow that cover most of the long hood with red covering the top quarter; TR 626 was repainted white with yellow headstocks and has the "New Zealand Rail" logo on the front and 718 was also repainted white but this time with red headstocks for the Westland Dairy Company.[1] TRs 56 and 92 were repainted fully yellow with white numbers on each side of their cabs. In 1994 TR 943 was repainted at Hillside Workshops and was repainted in dark blue with back and yellow "Chevron Safety Stripes" on its headstocks. It also had "Transtec Engineering Dunedin" on the side of the long hood.[2]

Table of locomotive specifications

Metric

13-18
20-22
30-36		 23-29 60-64 81 100-109 110-118 150-154 155, 156 157-161 162-176 177-182 183-191
Introduced 1936-40 1939-41 1949-50 1939 1956 1963-64 1956-57 1956-57 1958-59 1959-62 1969 1973-78
Number in sub-class 16 7 5 1 10 9 5 2 5 15 6 9
Manufacturer Drewry Car Co Drewry Car Co Drewry / RS&H Drewry Car Co A & G Price A & G Price W G Bagnall W G Bagnall A & G Price A & G Price Hitachi NZR
Axles 0-4-0 0-6-0 0-4-0
Length 5.1 m 6.2 m 6.6 m 5.0 m 6.1 m 6.4 m 7 m 7 m 7 m 7 m 7 m 7 m
Weight
IWO		 9.4 t 15.7 t 20.1 t 10.7 t 15.2 t 15.2 t 20.8 t 20.8 t 20.3 t 20.3 t 20.3 t 20.4 t
Engine Parsons petrol /
Detroit 4-71		 Leyland petrol /
Gardner 8LW		 Gardner 6L3 Gardner 6LW /
Detroit 4-71		 Gardner 6LW Gardner 6LW McLaren M6 /
Gardner 6LX		 Gardner 6L3 McLaren M6 /
Gardner 6LX		 Gardner 6L3 Cummins 6 cyl Gardner 6LX
Transmission Wilsons 4 speed /
Allison torque converter		 Unknown /
Wilsons 4 speed		 Wilsons 4 speed Wilsons 4 speed or
Allison torque converter		 SCG 4 speed Twin Disc torque converter SCG 4 speed /
Twin Disc torque converter		 SCG 4 speed SCG 4 speed /
Twin Disc torque converter		 SCG 4 speed Niigata torque converter Rolls Royce torque converter
Power 52 kW /
78 kW		 90 kW /
75 kW		 115 kW 76/78 kW 83 kW 80 kW 112 kW 114 kW 112 kW 114 kW 138 kW 112 kW
Tractive effort 23 kN 33 kN 35 kN 30 kN 32 kN 37 kN 34 kN 43 kN 42 kN 42 kN 49 kN 34 kN
Speed 33 km/h 24 km/h 35 km/h 33 km/h 27 km/h 24 km/h 40 km/h 30 km/h 30 km/h 30 km/h 32 km/h 40 km/h
13-18
20-22
30-36		 23-29 60-64 81 100-109 110-118 150-154 155, 156 157-161 162-176 177-182 183-191

Imperial

13-18
20-22
30-36		 23-29 60-64 81 100-109 110-118 150-154 155, 156 157-161 162-176 177-182 183-191
Introduced 1936-40 1939-41 1949-50 1939 1956 1963-64 1956-57 1956-57 1958-59 1959-62 1969 1973-78
Number in sub-class 16 7 5 1 10 9 5 2 5 15 6 9
Manufacturer Drewry Car Co Drewry Car Co Drewry / RS&H Drewry Car Co A & G Price A & G Price W G Bagnall W G Bagnall A & G Price A & G Price Hitachi NZR
Axles 0-4-0 0-6-0 0-4-0
Length 16 ft 9 in 20 ft 4 in 21 ft 8 in 16 ft 5 in 20 ft 0 in 21 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in 23 ft 0 in
Weight
IWO		 9.3 long tons; 10.4 short tons 15.5 long tons; 17.3 short tons 19.8 long tons; 22.2 short tons 10.5 long tons; 11.8 short tons 15.0 long tons; 16.8 short tons 15.0 long tons; 16.8 short tons 20.5 long tons; 22.9 short tons 20.5 long tons; 22.9 short tons 20.0 long tons; 22.4 short tons 20.0 long tons; 22.4 short tons 20.0 long tons; 22.4 short tons 20.1 long tons; 22.5 short tons
Engine Parsons petrol /
Detroit 4-71		 Leyland petrol /
Gardner 8LW		 Gardner 6L3 Gardner 6LW /
Detroit 4-71		 Gardner 6LW Gardner 6LW McLaren M6 /
Gardner 6LX		 Gardner 6L3 McLaren M6 /
Gardner 6LX		 Gardner 6L3 Cummins 6 cyl Gardner 6LX
Transmission Wilsons 4 speed /
Allison torque converter		 Unknown /
Wilsons 4 speed		 Wilsons 4 speed Wilsons 4 speed or
Allison torque converter		 SCG 4 speed Twin Disc torque converter SCG 4 speed /
Twin Disc torque converter		 SCG 4 speed SCG 4 speed /
Twin Disc torque converter		 SCG 4 speed Niigata torque converter Rolls Royce torque converter
Power 70 hp /
105 hp		 120 hp /
101 hp		 154 hp 102 hp /
105 hp		 111 hp 110 hp 150 hp 153 hp 150 hp 153 hp 185 hp 150 hp
Tractive effort 5,200 lbf 7,400 lbf 7,900 lbf 6,700 lbf 7,200 lbf 8,300 lbf 7,600 lbf 9,700 lbf 9,400 lbf 9,400 lbf 11,000 lbf 7,600 lbf
Speed 21 mph 15 mph 22 mph 21 mph 17 mph 15 mph 25 mph 19 mph 19 mph 19 mph 20 mph 25 mph
13-18
20-22
30-36		 23-29 60-64 81 100-109 110-118 150-154 155, 156 157-161 162-176 177-182 183-191

Class register

Key: In service Out of service Auckland Transport service Preserved Overhaul/Repair Scrapped
Original no. TMS no. Builder (batch) Introduced Withdrawn Notes
TR 1 Muir-Hill 1924 March 1948
TR 4 Muir-Hill 1929 January 1950
TR 5 Muir-Hill 1928 August 1954
TR 6 A & G Price 1931 July 1960
TR 7 A & G Price 1931 July 1960
TR 13 10 Drewry Car Company, first batch August 1936 March 1985 Preserved, Feilding and District Steam Rail Society.
TR 14 Drewry Car Company, first batch August 1936 July 1960
TR 15 27 Drewry Car Company, first batch October 1936 August 1988
TR 16 33 Drewry Car Company, first batch November 1936 May 1983 Preserved, Bush Tramway Club.
TR 17 56 Drewry Car Company, first batch November 1936 KiwiRail's oldest locomotive. Used as Hutt Workshops's main shunter and is in the "KiwiRail" livery.
TR 18 62 Drewry Car Company, first batch November 1936 May 1985 Preserved, Pleasant Point Museum and Railway.
TR 20 79 Drewry Car Company, first batch March 1939 February 1994
TR 21 85 Drewry Car Company, first batch March 1939 April 1988 Preserved, Museum of Transport and Technology.
TR 22 91 Drewry Car Company, first batch March 1939 May 1985 Formerly used by the NZR Ways and Works Department. Preserved, Canterbury Railway Society.
TR 23 102 Drewry Car Company, first batch September 1939 April 1981 Preserved, Gisborne City Vintage Railway.
TR 24 119 Drewry Car Company, second batch May 1941 April 1981 Preserved, Thames North Primary School.
TR 25 125 Drewry Car Company, second batch September 1940 February 1989
TR 26 131 Drewry Car Company, second batch March 1941 April 1987
TR 27 148 Drewry Car Company, second batch May 1941 February 1989
TR 28 Drewry Car Company, second batch September 1941 September 1975
TR 29 154 Drewry Car Company, second batch January 1942 April 1987
TR 30 160 Drewry Car Company, first batch September 1939 February 1988 Preserved, Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
TR 31 177 Drewry Car Company, first batch October 1939 November 1989
TR 32 183 Drewry Car Company, first batch October 1939 November 1989 Preserved, Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum.
TR 33 200 Drewry Car Company, first batch December 1939 October 1986 Preserved, Helensville Railway Station Precinct.
TR 34 217 Drewry Car Company, first batch February 1940 April 1985 Preserved, Bush Tramway Club.
TR 35 223 Drewry Car Company, first batch September 1939 February 1988 Preserved, Oamaru Steam and Rail.
TR 36 246 Drewry Car Company, first batch December 1939 February 1988 Preserved, Pahiatua Railcar Society.
TR 38 A & G Price 1939 June 1974 First petrol locomotive in New Zealand.[3] Formerly used by the NZR Ways and Works Department, Mosgiel and operated as WW 4048. Preserved, The Plains Railway.
TR 39 A & G Price 1939 April 1963
TR 40 Muir-Hill 1950 June 1962
TR 41 Hudswell Clarke May 1944 March 1948
TR 42 FC Hibbert February 1942 September 1978
TR 46 FC Hibbert May 1944 March 1948
TR 54 Hudswell Clarke February 1956 October 1966 Preserved, Canterbury Railway Society.
TR 60 252 Drewry Car Company and RSH April 1950 December 1988
TR 61 269 Drewry Car Company and RSH April 1950 February 1988 Scrapped 1989.
TR 62 275 Drewry Car Company and RSH September 1950 February 1988 Preserved, Nelson Railway Society.
TR 63 281 Drewry Car Company and RSH September 1950 October 1985
TR 64 298 Drewry Car Company and RSH March 1954 May 1966
TR 67 Hudswell Clarke 1950 Withdrawal date unknown. Withdrawn in the late 1950`s. Formerly Scrapped in October 2002 at Khandallah park by the Wellington City Council.
TR 81 309 Drewry Car Company, batch three. October 1955 February 1988 Ohai Railway Board, 1955-88. Preserved, Ocean Beach Railway.
TR 100 315 A & G Price, first batch. December 1956
TR 101 321 A & G Price, first batch. December 1956 Withdrawal date unknown.
TR 102 338 A & G Price, first batch. December 1956 Withdrawal date unknown.
TR 103 344 A & G Price, first batch. January 1957 1991 Owned by Morrinsville Kiwi Fertilizer Co Limited. It is on loan to the Rotorua Ngongotaha Railway Trust.
TR 104 350 A & G Price, first batch. February 1957 March 1988 Preserved, Kingston Flyer. Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 105 367 A & G Price, first batch. April 1957 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 106 373 A & G Price, first batch. May 1957 August 1989
TR 107 396 A & G Price, first batch. May 1957 2005 Formerly used by the NZR Ways and Works Department, Middleton and operated as WW 4733. Preserved, West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society. Named Rosie.
TR 108 407 A & G Price, first batch. July 1957 Withdrawal date unknown. Formerly used by the NZR Ways and Works Department, Otaki and operated as WW 4346. Preserved, Waitara Railway Preservation Society.
TR 109 413 A & G Price, first batch. May 1957
TR 110 436 A & G Price, second batch. November 1963 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 111 442 A & G Price, second batch. February 1963 2006 Preserved, Dunedin Railways. Not mainline cerified.
TR 112 459 A & G Price, second batch. February 1964 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 113 465 A & G Price, second batch. February 1964 July 2010 Privately owned. Preserved, SteamRail Wanganui.
TR 114 471 A & G Price, second batch. March 1964 Withdrawal date unknown. Stored at Hutt Workshops as a source of parts. Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 115 488 A & G Price, second batch. December 1965
TR 116 494 A & G Price, second batch. December 1965 July 1957
TR 117 505 A & G Price, second batch. March 1966 February 1988 Preserved, Pahiatua Railcar Society.
TR 118 511 A & G Price, second batch. March 1966 Withdrawal date unknown. Preserved, Waimea Plains Railway. Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 150 528 W. G. Bagnall, first batch. May 1957
TR 151 534 W. G. Bagnall, first batch. March 1957 July 2004 Preserved, Mainline Steam. Named Tonka Toy.
TR 152 540 W. G. Bagnall, first batch. June 1957
TR 153 557 W. G. Bagnall, first batch. July 1957 Withdrawal date unknown.
TR 154 563 W. G. Bagnall, first batch. July 1957
TR 155 586 W. G. Bagnall, second batch. December 1959
TR 156 592 W. G. Bagnall, second batch. July 1957 December 1998 Preserved, Canterbury Railway Society.
TR 157 603 W. G. Bagnall, second batch. July 1958 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 158 972 A & G Price, third batch. August 1959
TR 159 626 A & G Price, third batch. December 1958
TR 160 632 A & G Price, third batch. December 1959 2004 Preserved, Pahiatua Railcar Society. Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 161 649 A & G Price, third batch. December 1958 2004 Preserved, Reefton Historic Trust Board. Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 162 655 A & G Price, fourth batch. December 1959 Withdrawal date unknown.
TR 163 661 A & G Price, fourth batch. December 1959 Withdrawal date unknown. Preserved, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. Named Timmy.
TR 164 678 A & G Price, fourth batch. December 1959 2003 Preserved, Feilding and Districts Steam Rail Society.
TR 165 684 A & G Price, fourth batch. February 1960 2004 Preserved, Waitara Railway Preservation Society.
TR 166 989 A & G Price, fourth batch. March 1960 Withdrawal date unknown. Preserved, Main Trunk Rail Ohakune.
TR 167 690 A & G Price, fourth batch. May 1960 December 1993
TR 168 701 A & G Price, fourth batch. August 1960 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 169 718 A & G Price, fourth batch. October 1960 2001 Sold to Westland Dairy Products, Hokitika. Used as yard shunter.
TR 170 724 A & G Price, fourth batch. December 1960 March 2006 Preserved, Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society. Currently in the "Tranz Rail Black" livery.
TR 171 730 A & G Price, fourth batch. December 1960 April 2010 Formerly used by the NZR Ways and Works Department, Wiri and operated as WW 4782. Preserved, Museum of Transport and Technology. Currently in the "Tranz Rail Blue" livery.
TR 172 747 A & G Price, fourth batch. July 1978
TR 173 753 A & G Price, fourth batch. August 1962
TR 174 776 A & G Price, fourth batch. November 1962 Withdrawal date unknown. Scrapped July 2001.
TR 175 782 A & G Price, fourth batch. March 1963 December 1988
TR 176 799 A & G Price, fourth batch. March 1963
TR 177 816 Hitachi March 1969
TR 178 822 Hitachi March 1969 Currently in the "Tranz Rail Blue" livery.
TR 179 839 Hitachi March 1969 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 180 845 Hitachi March 1969 Currently in the "Toll Rail ("Corn Cob")" livery.
TR 181 851 Hitachi February 1969 Currently in the "International Orange" livery.
TR 182 868 Hitachi February 1969 Currently in the "Tranz Rail Blue" livery.
TR 183 874 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1973 Currently in the "KiwiRail" livery.
TR 184 880 NZR Hillside Workshops April 1974 Currently in the "Tranz Rail Blue" livery.
TR 185 897 NZR Hillside Workshops July 1974 Currently in the "KiwiRail" livery.
TR 186 908 NZR Hillside Workshops November 1974 Currently in the "Tranz Rail Black" livery.
TR 187 914 NZR Hillside Workshops August 1975 Currently in the "KiwiRail" livery.
TR 188 920 NZR Hillside Workshops April 1976 Currently in the "KiwiRail" livery.
TR 189 937 NZR Hillside Workshops September 1976 July 2010 Preserved, Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust.
TR 190 943 NZR Hillside Workshops January 1978 2004 Preserved, National Railway Museum of New Zealand. Currently at Mainline Steam, Middleton.
TR 191 966 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1977 Currently in the "International Orange" livery. Formerly owned by the Oringi Freezing Works. Repurchased by KiwiRail in 2012.
Price Shunter no. 222 1026 A & G Price 1951, 1997 1997 Built for Pacific Steel for their Otahuhu plant, 1951. Reclassified from DSA 222. Purchased by Tranz Rail (now KiwiRail) in 1997. Used for Industrial uses.

Non-NZR TRs

Key: In service Out of service Auckland Transport service Preserved Overhaul/Repair Scrapped
Original no. TR no. Builder (batch) Introduced for NZR/Industrial uses Withdrawn from NZR/Industrial uses Notes
Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 7908 1 Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 1962 2009 Preserved, Oamaru Steam and Rail. Named "Husky".
Howard 936 12 J & F Howard 1930 1986 Preserved, The Plains Railway.
Price 198 119 A & G Price 1960 1985 Preserved, The Plains Railway.
Price 213 213 A & G Price 1964 1988 Preserved, Mainline Steam.
EB 26 1003 Goodman Manufacturing Company 1925 1954 Preserved, Hawke's Bay Rail.

References

  1. ↑ "Railfan" 9 (2). Triple M Publications. March 2003. ISSN 1173-2229.
  2. ↑ "Railfan" 1 (4). Triple M Publications. September 1995. ISSN 1173-2229.
  3. ↑ "Plains Railway - TR38". Retrieved 15 August 2010.

External links