New Zealand EB class locomotive

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4wBE (later 4wDE)
• UIC	Bo
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length	6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Loco weight	12 long tons (13.4 short tons; 12.2 t); Rebuilt 14 long tons (15.7 short tons; 14.2 t)
Prime mover	AEC Comet Mark III

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Battery electric,; later diesel electric
Builder	Goodman Manufacturing Company (1), and NZR (4)

New Zealand EB class locomotive
New Zealand EB class locomotive
	AP Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Battery electric,; later diesel electric
Builder	Goodman Manufacturing Company (1), and NZR (4)
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4wBE (later 4wDE)
• UIC	Bo
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length	6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Loco weight	12 long tons (13.4 short tons; 12.2 t); Rebuilt 14 long tons (15.7 short tons; 14.2 t)
Prime mover	AEC Comet Mark III
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	20 km/h (12 mph)
Power output	23 kW (31 hp); Rebuilt 48 kW (64 hp)
Operators
Career
Operators	New Zealand Railways
Number in class	5
Numbers	Original: 25 – 29; TMS: 1809, 1815, 1821 (two did not receive TMS numbers)
Locale	Frankton, Hutt, Hillside,Addington, and Otahuhu.
First run	1925, 1929; Rebuilt 1953

The New Zealand EB class locomotive^{[nb 1]} was a class of five battery electric (later diesel-electric) locomotives built to perform shunting duties at the workshops of New Zealand's national rail network.

Introduction

The first (later No. 29) was built in 1925 in the United States, and began its working life at Hamilton railway station in Frankton; then four years later it was transferred to Christchurch's Addington Workshops. That same year, four more were built at Hutt Workshops (No's 25 and 26) and Hillside Workshops (No's 27 and 28); they were stationed at main workshops around the country.^[1]

Conversion

New batteries were required in 1937, and although conversion into diesel-electric locomotives was proposed, rebuilding was not undertaken until the early 1950s. In their new guise, the locomotives survived well into the 1970s.

Withdrawal

The first to be withdrawn was EB 27 in 1976, and two years later, the class leader, EB 25, was also removed from service. It has been preserved by Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology. The other three locomotives survived long enough to receive TMS numbers – EB 26 became EB 1809, EB 28 became EB 1815, and EB 29 became EB 1821. The latter two were withdrawn in 1980, but EB1809, now stationed in Napier, was reclassified as a member of the TR class, TR1003. After it was withdrawn, it was saved for preservation and is now serviceable at the Silver Stream Railway.

References

Footnotes

^ Following the introduction of TMS in 1979, the class classification was capitalised, whereas previously the second letter was a smaller capital letter, that is E^B

Citations

^ Palmer & Stewart 1965, p. 128.

Bibliography

Churchman, Geoffrey B. (1995). Railway Electrification in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney & Wellington: IPL Books. pp. 42, 43. ISBN 0-908876-79-3.
Palmer, A. N.; Stewart, W. W. (1965). Cavalcade of New Zealand Locomotives. Wellington: A H. & A W. Reed. ISBN 978-0-207-94500-7.

External links

[EB-1] Following the introduction of TMS in 1979, the class classification was capitalised, whereas previously the second letter was a smaller capital letter, that is E^B

[FOOTNOTEPalmerStewart1965128-2] Palmer & Stewart 1965, p. 128.

[nb 1]

[1]