| Weight | 20t 0cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 0ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 130psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 10½in x 18in |
| Tractive Effort | 4,893lbf |
This locomotive was one of ten built by the Avonside Engine Company at Bristol in 1877 for the New Zealand Railways (NZR). All ten locomotives entered service the following year – this one in September 1878 as number 30. It became L21 in 1882 and then L219 in 1890. This engine was initially based at Wanganui where it was employed on construction trains.
The engines were used on the Auckland and Wellington section of the railway although they were not used to haul passenger trains for long as they were too small as traffic increased. This locomotive was transferred to Wellington in 1888.
NZR rebuilt seven of the locomotives in an attempt to improve their performance. They were initially given a leading bogie which turned the engines into 4-4-0T locomotives and then 4-4-2T when larger coal bunkers were fitted. Three locomotives including this one (509) were unmodified and all three save since been preserved.
The three unmodified engines were sold to the Public Works Department (PWD) in 1903 where L219 was renumbered L509. PWD undertook most major construction work in New Zealand, including roads, railways and power stations.
Whilst owned by PWD the locomotive was involved in the construction of the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) which runs from Wellington to Auckland. The 424 mile line was completed in 1908 and L508 was used to haul a Parliamentary Special on the line in August 1908. The line was not fully operational until 1909.
After this the locomotive was employed on the Raetihi branch line.
In 1949 it was sold to Wilsons Portland Cement Company for use at their quarry and cement works at Portland near Whangarei. Here it carried the number 8 and joined the other two ex PWD L class locomotives 507 and 508.It was fitted with a new boiler built by A and G Price early in its new career at Portland.
In 1974 the loco had become surplus to requirements at Portland and it was donated to the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (later Silver Stream Railway). The Silver Stream Railway is a heritage railway at Silverstream in the Hutt Valley near Wellington.
It was moved to the Seaview storage site shortly after it was returned to steam in 1979.In March 1980 it became the first steam locomotive to run on the re-laid Silver Stream Railway.
At Silver Stream a Westinghouse air braking system was refitted. A new funnel flange was fitted after the funnel was trimmed down during its time at Portland and a bar type cowcatcher was fitted to the front of the locomotive.
In the late 1980s it was withdrawn from service for some major work including retubing the boiler. After re-entering service in 1989 it was used over the next 11 years before being laid up requiring major work on the internal steam pipes and the running gear.
An overhaul of the locomotive started but work stopped in 2003 due to other priorities.
In 2007 Silver Stream Railway were approached with the idea of using the locomotive to help celebrate the opening of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. As a result work on overhauling the locomotive restarted and it was taken to Ohakune by road to undergo load testing before it hauled the re enactment of the Parliamentary Special in August 2008.
After being in service for ten years the locomotive was taken out of service again in 2019. The overhaul required involves purchase of a new firebox from England and a work on the 73 year old boiler.
This locomotive is one of three L class locomotives built by Avonside Engine Company in 1877which have been preserved. The other two are.
- L207/PWD L507 – Works number 1205
- L208/PWD L508 – Works number 1206
Preserved Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 