| Weight | 20t 5cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 0½ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 160psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 10½in x 18in |
| Tractive Effort | 6,960lbf |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson |
This locomotive class F was built by Neilson & Co in Glasgow for the New Zealand Government Railway. It was built in 1872 and entered service the following year as Otago Railways’ No. 8 and carried the name Edie Ochiltree. It was renumbered F36 in 1877 and then F13 in 1885.
88 members of the class were acquired by the Government and by various private railways, notably the Westport Harbour Board and the Thames Valley & Rotorua Railway (TVRR). They were built in Britain.
- 26 by Avonside Engine Co
- 21 by Dübs & Co
- 12 by Neilson & Co
- 12 by Robert Stephenson & Company
- 11 by Yorkshire Engine Company
- 5 by Vulcan Foundry
- 1 by Black, Hawthorn & Co
The F class was the first important class of steam locomotive built to operate on New Zealand’s railway network after the national gauge of 3 ft 6 in was adopted. They were ordered by the central government between 1872 and 1888. This locomotive was one of three prototypes built by Neilsons in 1872.
The locomotives were capable of hauling light passenger trains at speeds up to 70 km/h (43 mph) or pull up to 800 tonnes of freight on flat trackage.
Originally the design was meant for use on the Southland Railways but they operated essentially everywhere on New Zealand’s railway network doing a variety of jobs. As the main lines were extended and loads increased larger and more powerful locomotives were required and the F class locomotives were consigned to branch line and shunting duties.
By the 1940s most of the remaining members of the F class were concentrated at Christchurch, Invercargill, and Greymouth where they were still used for shunting duties. The short wheel-base meant that could operate where there were tight curves and limited clearance. Many of the locomotives were then replaced by diesel shunters.
The last allocation for the F class was at Lyttelton, where their short wheelbase allowed them to run over the sharp curves on the wharfs.
This locomotive (F13) was one of the last two in service at Christchurch. It was withdrawn in 1963 along with F163. Other F class locomotives continued to be employed in industrial service at freezing works and coal mines.
In 1963 both locomotives were overhauled and repainted in an approximation of the green livery used in the 1870s and named Peveril (F 13) and Ivanhoe (F 163) respectively.
After taking part in the New Zealand Railway (NZR) centenary celebrations at the Christchurch Railway Station in 1963, both were stored in the Arthur’s Pass locomotive shed for safekeeping.
It was donated by the NZR to Ferrymead Heritage Park at Christchurh in 1967. Here it was stored in the tram barn until 1973.
After some years on display, F13 was restored to full working order between 1982 and 1984. It then became the mainstay of passenger services for a number of years.
The locomotive has operated on the NZR main line on several occasions, running local services out of Oamaru in 1987, shuttle trains between Christchurch and Papanui in conjunction with the 1990 Telethon, and operating at a Lyttelton Port Open Day in 1987.
F13 was taken out of service in the mid 1990s for its 10 year survey but was granted a special permit to enable it to participate in the 1999 Waipara Vintage Festival.
Between 2006 and 2015 the locomotive was overhauled at Ferrymead.
The epicentre of the most severe earthquakes in 2010/11 were near Ferrymead. They were notable for having an exceptionally strong and fast-moving upward thrust which threw people into the air in the Christchurch city centre. At Ferrymead the boiler of F13 was out of the chassis and mounted on a cradle whilst an overhaul was in progress. The earthquake threw the boiler out of the cradle and dumped it on the workshop floor but happily no lasting damage was done.
The locomotive which is owned by the Canterbury Railway Society Inc is still based at the Ferrymead Heritage Park at Christchurh and is operational.
Apart from this locomotive eight members of the F class have been preserved
- F111 – Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1233 in 1879
- F150 – Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1371 in 1880
- F163 – Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1367 in 1880
- F185 – Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1171 in 1878
- F230 – Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1364 in 1880
- F233 – Built by Robert Stephenson & Company as works number 2593 in 1885
- F180 – Built by Yorkshire Engine Company as works number 244 in 1878
Four members of the F class remain as parts only
- F12 – Built by Yorkshire Engine Company as works number 241 in 1874
This locomotive was taken out of service in 1957 and sold to Waitaki Farmers Freezing Company for use at their Pukeuri works, near Oamaru. It was used there until 1968. Since arriving at Ferrymead the locomotive has been used for parts for both F13 and F111 at Ocean Beach Railway. The cab is owned by the Ocean Beach Railway, Dunedin for use on F 111, and the rest of the locomotive is stored at Ferrymead as a source of spare parts for F 13.
This locomotive has largely been scrapped and only the chassis remain
- F162 – Built by Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1363 in 1880
This locomotive was withdrawn from service with NZR in May 1932. In 1939 it was converted to a diesel whilst based at AFFCO in Auckland.
- F216 – Built by Neilson & Company as works number 3751 in 1888
This locomotive was the last class F built and started its life with the Kaihu Valley Railway. It was converted to a diesel at AFFCO at Horotin in 1936. In January 1993 it was purchased by NZR. It is now at the Bush Tramway Club at Pukemiro
- F228 – Built by Built by Dübs & Co as works number 1365 in 1880
This locomotive was withdrawn from service with NZR in November 1935 and sold to Auckland Farmers Freezing Co. Ltd at Moerewa. In 1936 it was converted to use petrol. Only the chassis remain
Preserved Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 