| Driving Wheels | 3ft 0ins |
| Weight | 15 tons |
| Boiler Pressure | 130psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 9½in x 18in |
| Tractive Effort | 4,693 lbf |
This locomotive was built by Neilson & Company in Glasgow in 1880 and entered service with New Zealand Railways (NZR) later that year. It was one of 35 class locomotives built as class D engines that were all withdrawn from service by the end of 1927.
The first eight members of the class which were supplied by Neilson & Company in 1874. Five more were supplied by Dübs in 1878 and then four from Neilson in 1878 and seven in 1880. Scott Brothers of Christchurch built ten in 1887 and one in 1890.
Interestingly these were the first class of locomotive built by Scott Brothers for the NZR and were one of only two New Zealand manufacturers to supply steam locomotives to NZR. The other was A & G Price of Thames.
The class was not particularly powerful and was employed on light duties, sometimes achieving speeds of 45 mph on level track They often saw service on commuter trains between Christchurch and Lyttelton until superior locomotives took their place. They were utilised at other major locations on the South Island’s east coast.
This locomotive was used by the NZR until 1918 when it was sold to Leyland O’Brian at Kaingaroa where it was employed on the tramway used to extract logs from the forest in the Kaimai Range and transport them to the Leyland & O’Briens Mill in Kaingaroa.
The locomotive was last used in 1928 and was then left for many years before being dumped in Kaingaroa Swamp.
In 1963 the locomotive was rescued and cosmetically restored before being placed on static display in Centennial Park in Kaitaia in 1967.
Six other class D locomotives have been preserved.in New Zealand
Neilson & Company
- Works number 1847 – 143
- Works number 2306 – 16
- Works number 2563 – 170
- Works number 2564 – 6
Dübs
- Works number 1164 – 50
Scott Brothers
- Works number 31 – 137
Preserved Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 