The NZR J class steam locomotives were a class of locomotive used in New Zealand. Following the success of the K class on NZR main lines, there was an urgent need for a modern, powerful locomotive capable of running over secondary lines laid with lighter rails. Thus a new "Mountain" 4-8-2 type locomotive was designed and classified by NZGR as the new class J. The 40 locomotives were all built by North British Locomotive Works, Scotland. They should not be confused with the members of 1874's J class, the first tender locomotives to operate in New Zealand.

The class had a notable appearance with the boiler being partly streamlined after the style of the New Haven Railroad's J400 class, and was also similar to the Norfolk and Western Railway class J and the NSWGR 38 class. The J class incorporated all the latest ideas of the K^A class but a noteworthy departure was the use of the Baker valve gear. The tender was of the Vanderbilt type.

Twelve J class locomotives were converted to oil burning and reclassified as J^B class, and the bullet nose streamlining was gradually removed.

Preserved Locomotive List

• J 1211 - Mainline Steam
• J 1234 - Glenbrook Vintage Railway (leased from Steam Incorporated)
• J^B 1236 (converted from J class to J^B class) - Mainline Steam

References

External links

• NZR Steam locomotives - J class (4-8-2)