Reflecting on NZR Steam Locomotive W~D319

摘要

W~D 319 was one of 18 with a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement tank locomotives imported from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1901. In many ways they were identical, or similar, to the W~B class 2-6-2 tank locomotives of 1898, also built by Baldwin. However, there were some important differences. The newer engines had a total of 900 gallons water capacity in the side tanks, compared with the 850 gallons of their predecessors, and the coal bunker size was substantially increased from 1.3 tons to 2.7 tons capacity. These changes, which included a more roomy cab, necessitated the provision of a four-wheeled bogie under the cab instead of the two-wheeled truck of the W~B class. The starting tractive effort was higher (15,780 Ib against 13,412 Ib) on the newer engines as a result of the higher boiler pressure.