Observer23

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Full Name: The New Zealand Railway Observer

Issue Number: 23

Issue Date: October 1947

Volume and Number: 4/5

Pages: 20

Page Range: 101-120

Cover Image: n.a.

CONTENTS

Society Notes

ARTICLE - The South Island Wab_class_locomotives - New Zealand's Last Mainline Tank Engines by S. A. Rockliffe

• K_class Loco
• X_class_loco
• Ab_class_loco

Loco_Ws686 built at Addington, entered Service in NI July 1917 Loco_Wab687 built at Addington, entered Service in NI April 1918 10 more built at Hillside in 1923 (boilers made at Addington) numbered Wab763 and 772 ans Ws764 - 771, all sent to Auckland for mainly Suburban work During 1926-27, there were another 10 built at Hillside with boilers made in Addington. Loco_Wab786, Maker No 243, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service July 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab787, Maker No 244, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service August 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab788, Maker No 245, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service September 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab789, Maker No 246, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service October 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab790, Maker No 247, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service December 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab791, Maker No 248, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service December 1926. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab792, Maker No 249, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service March 1927. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab793, Maker No 250, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service March 1927. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab794, Maker No 251, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service May 1927. Based in Dunedin Loco_Wab795, Maker No 252, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service May 1927. Based in Dunedin 8 ordered from A & G Price for NI work being Loco_Wab796 - 798 and Loco_Ws799 - 803 The NI Wab_class Loco's were used mainly between Taihape and Taumaranui and the Ws_class_loco's mainly on Auckland Suburban services but some went to Wellington Loco_Wab786 - 795 were run in on Dunedin suburban services, then operated Dunedin - Oamaru New design trailing trucks fitted between October 1931 and July 1935 and Ws_class_loco's reclassified Wab_class_loco's Rear cowcatchers removed from Dunedin based locos to enable double heading At nearly 15t axle loads, they were restricted to Pukeuri - Otokaia plus Port Chalmers Branch Loco_Wab790 sent to NI in May 1943 and Loco_Wab794 sent to NI in June 1943, 2 Class_Ab_locos, sent in return Loco_Ab792 (converted from loco_Wab792 at Hillside) entered service, with others to follow as they need general overhauls