NZR B class (1899)

NZR B class (1899)
B class 4-8-0 steam locomotive, NZR number 178
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder NZR Addington Workshops (6); Sharp, Stewart & Co. (4)[1] Build date 1899 (5), 1901 (1), 1902 (2), 1903 (2) Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-0 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 42.5 in (1.080 m) Length 52 ft 1+1⁄2 in (15.89 m) Adhesive weight 31 long tons 14 cwt (71,000 lb or 32.2 t) 31 long tons 14 hundredweight (32.2 t; 35.5 short tons) Tender weight 25 long tons 10 cwt (57,100 lb or 25.9 t) 25 long tons 10 hundredweight (25.9 t; 28.6 short tons) Total weight 68 long tons 10 cwt (153,400 lb or 69.6 t) 68 long tons 10 hundredweight (69.6 t; 76.7 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons 0 cwt (9,000 lb or 4.1 t) 4 long tons 0 hundredweight (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons) Water cap. 1,700 imperial gallons (7,700 L; 2,000 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 17.3 sq ft (1.61 m2) 26.4 sq ft (2.45 m2) Rebuilt Boiler pressure 175 lbf/in2 (1.21 MPa) 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) Rebuilt Heating surface 1,037 sq ft (96.3 m2) 768 sq ft (71.3 m2) Rebuilt Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 16 in × 22 in (406 mm × 559 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 18,550 lbf (82.5 kN) 21,200 lbf (94 kN) Rebuilt
Career Operators NZGR Number in class 10 Numbers 178, 198, 302–309 Withdrawn 1960–1967 Disposition 10(all) scrapped

The NZR B class of 1899 was a class of steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's national rail network. An earlier B class of Double Fairlies had entered service in 1874, but as they had departed from the ownership of the New Zealand Railways (NZR) by the end of 1896, the B classification was free to be re-used. Despite early difficulties, they were amongst NZR's most influential designs.^[1]