NZR WG class


The NZR WG class was a development of the preceding WF class of all purpose tank locomotive. Later in their careers most were rebuilt as NZR [WW class|WW] class. The locomotives were designed by A. L. Beattie, who described them as a "large tank locomotive."

In service

The locomotives were used on suburban trains in Wellington and Auckland.

Rimutaka Incline

WG 480 was built by New Zealand Railways at Hillside, and entered service in October 1910. It was altered for use on the Rimutaka Incline to assist the "Fell" locomotives cope with the military traffic to and from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces training camp at Featherston. The cowcatchers were altered to clear the high Fell centre rail, and it had an acetylene headlamp arranged to follow the alignment of the track on curves. The locomotive was written off in June 1969, and preserved at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.

Withdrawals

All of the locomotives were withdrawn by 1956.