#0375

NZR L class

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Avonside Engine Company· from 1877· class of 10 New Zealand 2-4-0T locomotives

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Locomotive NZR L 508 in Shantytown Heritage Park: Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The NZR L class were a series of ten small tank engines built in England for the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) during the early years of the development of New Zealand's railway network.

who runs it

New Zealand Railways Department New Zealand Ministry of Works

base stats

built 10made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 149 years ago, in 1877.
Served for 97 years (1877–1974).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1877
in service from: 1877
retired: 1974
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: steam locomotive
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Avonside Engine Company
operators: New Zealand Railways Department, New Zealand Ministry of Works
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-4-0
length: 7.3 m

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q16927117, Wikipedia: NZR L class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.