#0661

NZR W class

🇳🇿 New Zealand ·built by New Zealand Railways Department· from 1889· class of 2 New Zealand 2-6-2T locomotives

what is it?

The NZR W class consisted of two steam locomotives built at the Addington Railway Workshops in Christchurch, New Zealand by the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR). They were the first locomotives to be built by NZR. Almost all subsequent tank locomotive classes built by NZR were classified as sub-classes of the W class, e.g. WA, WAB, WB. The only exception was the Y class.

who runs it

Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand New Zealand Railways Department

base stats

built 2made 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 137 years ago, in 1889.
Served for 70 years (1889–1959).

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

spec sheet

built: 1889–1891
in service from: 1889
retired: 1959
status: preserved
number built: 2
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇳🇿 New Zealand
builders: New Zealand Railways Department, Addington Railway Workshops
operators: Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand, New Zealand Railways Department
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-6-2T
length: 8.8 m

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

Sources: Wikidata Q6956260, Wikipedia: NZR W class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.