NZR WAB class
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NZR WAB class

WAB 794 on its first excursion after restoration, with the Capital Connection rolling stock. Photo by Joseph Christianson
NameNZR WAB class
PowertypeSteam
CaptionWAB 794 on its first excursion after restoration, with the Capital Connection rolling stock. Photo by Joseph Christianson
Builddate1939
BuilderNZR Addington Workshops, Christchurch (1+1)
NZR Hillside Workshops, Dunedin (12+8)
A & G Price Limited, Thames (3+5)|
Weight71.5 LT
Whytetype 
Firstrundate1918 - 1926|
DispositionWithdrawn, 2 preserved
Numinclass30 (16 WAB+14 WS)
Weightondrivers42.0 LT
Wheelbase33 ft 1 in
Boilerpressure200 psi
Gauge3'6"al=onlk=on
CurrentownerFeilding and District Steam Rail Society (1)
Wheeldiameter54 in (1.4 m)
CylindercountTwo
Cylindersize18 in (45.7 cm) bore
26 in (66 cm) stroke
Poweroutput1000 bhp (2540 cm)
Tractiveeffort22260 lbf (56540.4 kN)
Topspeed60 mph (96.6 km/h)
Retiredate1967 - 1972
Scrapdate1969 - 1972
LocaleAll of New Zealand
Roadnumber687 - 798
Length44 ft 5 in (71.5 1)|
FueltypeCoal
Watercap1700 impgal (7728.4 L)
Fuelcap3.0 LT (13.6 t)
Firearea33.0 sqft (3.1 m2)
Totalsurface1146 sqft (106.5 m2)
Superheaterarea277 sqft (25.7 m2)

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The WAB class locomotives were steam locomotives designed, built and used by New Zealand Railways Department. Their wheel arrangement is described by the Whyte notation 4-6-4T. The locomotives were designed by NZR chief draughtsman S.H. Jenkinson as tank versions of the AB class 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive. Initially, the locomotives were separated into two classes, designated WAB for mainline work and WS for suburban work.

The first locomotives, WS 686 and WAB 687, were built from the boilers, frames and engine units initially destined for AB 666 and AB 667. These entered service in 1917, WS 686 in Wellington and WAB 687 at Taumarunui in the central North Island. Fourteen WS class locomotives were built between 1917 and 1925: one at Addington workshops (686), five at A & G Price Ltd, Thames (799-803) and eight at Hillside workshops, Dunedin (764-771). All the WS class were converted to WAB in 1932-4. Sixteen WAB class were built between 1918 and 1926: one at Addington (687), 12 at Hillside (786-795) and three at A&G Price (796-798). Between 1947 and 1957 11 WAB class were converted to AB class.

The remaining locomotives were kept in service until the last days of steam, operating short-haul main line freight services and fast suburban services, particularly in Auckland. WAB 794 was sold to the Ohai Railway Board in Southland for running heavy coal trains.

The engines were progressively withdrawn in the 1960s.

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Key:

Number Builder Entered service Withdrawn Notes
687 NZR Addington April , 1918 January , 1966
763 NZR Hillside May , 1923 April , 1963
772 NZR Hillside July , 1924 September , 1962
786 NZR Hillside July , 1926 September , 1947 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn October 1968
787 NZR Hillside August , 1926 October , 1947 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn April 1966
788 NZR Hillside September , 1926 January , 1948 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn March 1969
789 NZR Hillside October , 1926 August , 1947 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn March 1969
790 NZR Hillside December , 1926 September , 1957 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn February 1966
791 NZR Hillside December , 1926 November , 1947 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn October 1967
792 NZR Hillside March , 1927 June , 1947 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn July 1969
793 NZR Hillside March , 1927 February , 1948 Converted to Ab class; withdrawn March 1969
794 NZR Hillside May , 1927 August 31, 1955 Sold to Ohai Railway Board; withdrawn 1968
Preserved by Feilding and District Steam Rail Society, operating with mainline certification
795 NZR Hillside May , 1927 December , 1947 Converted as Ab class; withdrawn July 1969
Preserved (as Ab) by Kingston Flyer
796 A & G Price September , 1926 September , 1962
797 A & G Price September , 1926 May , 1963
798 A & G Price November , 1926 March , 1969

Rail vehicles of New Zealand

Battery electric locomotivesE - EB
Diesel locomotivesDA (inc. DAA, DAR) - DB (inc. DBR) - DC (inc. DCP) - DE - DF (English Electric) - DF (General Motors) inc. DFT - DG (inc. DH of 1956) - DH of 1978 - DI - DJ - DL - DQ (inc. QR) - DS - DSA - DSB - DSC - DSG - DSJ - DX (inc. DXB, DXC and DXR) - TR
Diesel Multiple UnitsADK (inc. ADB trailers) - ADL (inc. ADC trailers)
Electric locomotivesEA (later EO of 1968) - EC - ED - EF - EO of 1923 - EW
Electric Multiple UnitsDM (inc. D trailers) - EM (inc. ET trailers) - "Matangi" FP (inc. FT trailers)
RailcarsRM class railcars: 88 seater (also known as Fiats or twinsets) - Clayton steam railcar - Edison battery-electric railcar - Leyland diesel railbus - Leyland experimental petrol railcar - MacEwan-Pratt petrol railcar - Model T Ford railcar - Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar - Silver Fern - Standard - Thomas Transmission - Vulcan - Wairarapa - Westinghouse

Non-RM class railcar: A 88 Buckhurst petrol carriage

Steam locomotivesA of 1873 - A of 1906 (inc. Ad) - AA - AB - B of 1874 - B of 1899 - BA - BB - BC - C of 1873 - C of 1930 - D of 1874 - D of 1929 - E of 1872-75 - E of 1906 - F - FA (inc. FB) - G of 1874 - G Garratt of 1928 (inc. Pacific rebuild) - H - J of 1874 - J of 1939 - JA - JB - K of 1877 - K of 1932 - KA - KB - L - LA - M - N - NA - NC - O - OA - OB - OC - P of 1876 - P of 1885 - Q of 1878 - Q of 1901 - R - S - T - U - UA - UB - UC - UD - V - W - WA - WAB (inc. WS) - WB - WD - WE - WF - WG - WH - WJ - WW - X - Y
Locomotive hauled carriages50-foot carriage - 56-foot carriage - ex-British Rail Mark 2 carriage- AK carriage - FM class guards van
See also: Locomotives of New Zealand; Motive power explanation; Multiple units and Railcars descriptions.



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