The NZR W
E Class were rebuilt from earlier
Addington built
B class locomotives. In service, the first two were tried on the Rimutaka Incline, however, they lacked the required
adhesion
Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another ( cohesion refers to the tendency of similar or identical particles/surfaces to cling to one another).
The forces that cause adhesion and cohesion can b ...
on the 1 in 15 (6.67%)
grade. They were later transferred to
Greymouth
Greymouth () ( Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coas ...
for use on the
Rewanui Incline, where they were far more successful, on the line's 1 in 25 (4%) grade. It is not known if they ever operated on the
Roa Incline.
The three We class locomotives lasted until 1964.
See also
*
NZR W class
New Zealand Railways may refer to KiwiRail which is the current rail services owner/operator and infrastructure owner/maintainer.
New Zealand Railways may also refer to the following companies:
* New Zealand Railways Department (also known as Ne ...
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NZR WA class
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NZR WB class
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NZR WD class
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NZR WF class
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NZR WG class
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NZR WW class
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NZR WS / WAB class
*
Locomotives of New Zealand
Locomotives of New Zealand is a complete list of all locomotive classes that operate or have operated in New Zealand's railway network. It does not include locomotives used on bush tramways.
All New Zealand's main-line locomotives run on a na ...
References
Bibliography
*
*
WE class
Scrapped locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1902
3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of New Zealand
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