NZR WAB class

NZR W^AB class

W^AB 794 on its first excursion after restoration, with the Capital Connection rolling stock

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	NZR Addington Workshops, Christchurch (1+1) NZR Hillside Workshops, Dunedin (12+8) A & G Price Limited, Thames (3+5)
Build date	1939

Specifications
Configuration	4-6-4T
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Wheel diameter	54 in (1.372 m)^[1]
Wheelbase	33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
Length	44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)^[1]
Adhesive weight	41.85 long tons (42.52 t; 46.87 short tons)^[1]
Loco weight	71.5 long tons (72.6 t; 80.1 short tons)^[1]
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	3.0 long tons (3.0 t; 3.4 short tons)^[1]
Water cap	1,700 imp gal (7,700 L; 2,000 US gal)^[1]
Firebox: • Firegrate area	33.0 sq ft (3.07 m²)^[1]
Boiler pressure	200 psi (1,379 kPa)^[1]
Heating surface	1,050 sq ft (98 m²)^[1]
Superheater: • Heating area	183 sq ft (17.0 m²)^[1]
Cylinders	Two^[1]
Cylinder size	17 in × 26 in (432 mm × 660 mm)^[1]

Performance figures
Maximum speed	60 mph (97 km/h)
Power output	1,000 bhp (750 kW)^[1]
Tractive effort	22,250 lbf (99.0 kN)^[1]

Career
Number in class	30 (16 W^AB+14 W^S)
Numbers	687 - 798
Locale	All of New Zealand
First run	1918 - 1926
Retired	1967 - 1972
Scrapped	1969 - 1972
Current owner	Feilding and District Steam Rail Society (1)
Disposition	Three preserved, remainders scrapped

The W^AB class locomotives were steam locomotives designed, built and used by New Zealand Railways Department. Their wheel arrangement is described by the Whyte notation 4-6-4T. The locomotives were designed by NZR chief draughtsman S.H. Jenkinson as tank versions of the A^B class 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive. Initially, the locomotives were separated into two classes, designated W^AB for mainline work and W^S for suburban work.

The first locomotives, W^S 686 and W^AB 687, were built from the boilers, frames and engine units initially destined for A^B 666 and A^B 667. These entered service in 1917, W^S 686 in Wellington and W^AB 687 at Taumarunui in the central North Island. Fourteen W^S class locomotives were built between 1917 and 1925: one at Addington workshops (686), five at A & G Price Ltd, Thames (799-803) and eight at Hillside workshops, Dunedin (764-771). All the W^S class were converted to W^AB in 1932-4. Sixteen W^AB class were built between 1918 and 1926: one at Addington (687), 12 at Hillside (786-795) and three at A&G Price (796-798). Between 1947 and 1957 11 W^AB class were converted to A^B class.

The remaining locomotives were kept in service until the last days of steam, operating short-haul main line freight services and fast suburban services, particularly in Auckland. W^AB 794 was sold to the Ohai Railway Board in Southland for running heavy coal trains.

The locomotives were progressively withdrawn in the 1960s.

Preserved locomotives

Only three examples of the class remain, with two in their original form as W^ABs.

W^AB 794 is preserved at Feilding, and has been used on main line excursions and also on the regular Wellington - Auckland Overlander service.

W^AB (former W^S) 800 is owned by the Waikato Branch of New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society and was stored for many years at the Te Awamutu Railway Museum. Following negotiation of a lease agreement, the engine has been moved to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for eventual restoration to working order.

A^B (former W^AB) 795 is preserved at Kingston, for use on the "Kingston Flyer".

Class register

Key:	In service	Out of service	Preserved	Overhaul/Repair	Scrapped

Number	Builder	Introduced^[2]	Withdrawn^[2]	Notes
686	NZR Addington	000000001917-04-01-0000April 1917	000000001966-01-01-0000January 1966
687	NZR Addington	000000001917-04-01-0000April 1917	000000001966-01-01-0000January 1966
763	NZR Hillside	000000001923-05-01-0000May 1923	000000001963-04-01-0000April 1963
764	NZR Hillside	July 1923	July 1963
765	NZR Hillside	August 1923	April 1963
766	NZR Hillside	September 1923	May 1964
767	NZR Hillside	November 1923	April 1963
768	NZR Hillside	January 1924	April 1963
769	NZR Hillside	May 1924	April 1963
770	NZR Hillside	May 1924	September 1962
771	NZR Hillside	July 1924	September 1962
772	NZR Hillside	000000001924-07-01-0000July 1924	000000001962-09-01-0000September 1962
786	NZR Hillside	000000001926-07-01-0000July 1926	000000001947-09-01-0000September 1947	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn October 1968
787	NZR Hillside	000000001926-08-01-0000August 1926	000000001947-10-01-0000October 1947	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn April 1966
788	NZR Hillside	000000001926-09-01-0000September 1926	000000001948-01-01-0000January 1948	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn March 1969
789	NZR Hillside	000000001926-10-01-0000October 1926	000000001947-08-01-0000August 1947	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn March 1969
790	NZR Hillside	000000001926-12-01-0000December 1926	000000001957-09-01-0000September 1957	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn February 1966
791	NZR Hillside	000000001926-12-01-0000December 1926	000000001947-11-01-0000November 1947	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn October 1967
792	NZR Hillside	000000001927-03-01-0000March 1927	000000001947-06-01-0000June 1947	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn July 1969
793	NZR Hillside	000000001927-03-01-0000March 1927	000000001948-02-01-0000February 1948	Converted to A^B class; withdrawn March 1969
794	NZR Hillside	000000001927-05-01-0000May 1927	000000001955-08-31-000031 August 1955	Sold to Ohai Railway Board; withdrawn 1968. Preserved by Feilding and District Steam Rail Society, operating with mainline certification
795	NZR Hillside	000000001927-05-01-0000May 1927	000000001947-12-01-0000December 1947	Converted as A^B class; withdrawn July 1969 Preserved (as A^B) by Kingston Flyer
796	A & G Price	000000001926-09-01-0000September 1926	000000001962-09-01-0000September 1962
797	A & G Price	000000001926-09-01-0000September 1926	000000001963-05-01-0000May 1963
798	A & G Price	000000001926-11-01-0000November 1926	000000001969-03-01-0000March 1969	Rebuilt as A^B class 11-1957
799	A & G Price	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927	000000001969-04-01-0000April 1969
800	A & G Price	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927	000000001969-04-01-0000April 1969	Stored at Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
801	A & G Price	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927	000000001969-04-01-0000April 1969
802	A & G Price	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927	000000001969-04-01-0000April 1969
803	A & G Price	000000001927-11-01-0000November 1927	000000001969-04-01-0000April 1969	Rebuilt as A^B class 12-1957.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Wab794 - Technical Information". Feilding and District Steam Rail Society. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
1 2 "Wab Class 4-6-4T Register". Retrieved 2009-07-03.

External links

Rail vehicles of New Zealand

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See also: Locomotives of New Zealand.

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