NZR WE class

The NZR W^E Class were rebuilt from earlier Sharp Stewart built NZR B [class (1899)|B class] locomotives. In service, the first two were tried on the Rimutaka Incline, however, they lacked the required adhesion on the 1 in 15 grade. They were later transferred to Greymouth for use on the Rewanui Incline, where they were far more successful, on the railway line's 1 in 25 grade. It is not known if they ever operated on the Roa Incline.
The three We class locomotives lasted until 1964 with the last ones withdrawn from service in 1969.