NZR X class

The New Zealand X class was a pioneering class of eighteen 4-8-2 steam locomotives built for New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) and designed by A. L. Beattie that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand. In 1908, a heavy and powerful locomotive was required to haul traffic on the newly completed mountainous central section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and as a logical progression of the 4-6-2 Q class design, the 4-8-2 wheel arrangement was created for the X class.^[1]

NZR X class
X class 588, photographed leaving Petone Workshops circa 1913. Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder NZR Addington Workshops Build date 1908 - 1909, 1913 - 1915 1943 - 1949 (rebuild)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-2 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 45 in (1.143 m) Length 56 ft 9.75 in (17.32 m) Adhesive weight 46.7 long tons (47.4 t; 52.3 short tons) (original) 45.6 long tons (46.3 t; 51.1 short tons) (rebuild) Loco weight 66.7 long tons (67.8 t; 74.7 short tons) (original) 66.6 long tons (67.7 t; 74.6 short tons) (rebuild) Tender weight 27.3 long tons (27.7 t; 30.6 short tons) (original) 28.55 long tons (29.01 t; 31.98 short tons) (rebuild) Total weight 94.0 long tons (95.5 t; 105.3 short tons) (original) 95.15 long tons (96.68 t; 106.57 short tons) (rebuild) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4.0 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons) (original) 5.0 long tons (5.1 t; 5.6 short tons) (rebuild) Water cap. 2,200 imp gal (10,000 L; 2,600 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 37.1 square feet (3.4 m2) (original) 37.5 square feet (3.5 m2) (rebuild) Boiler pressure 230 psi (1,586 kPa) (original) 215 psi (1,482 kPa) (rebuild) Heating surface 2,066 sq ft (191.9 m2) (original) 1,185 sq ft (110.1 m2) (rebuild) Superheater: ​  • Heating area None (original) 168 square feet (15.6 m2) (rebuild) Cylinders 2 high pressure + 2 low pressure (original) 4 high pressure (rebuild) High-pressure cylinder 13.5 in × 22 in (343 mm × 559 mm) Low-pressure cylinder 22 in × 22 in (559 mm × 559 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 30 mph (48 km/h) Tractive effort 26,620 lbf (118.4 kN) (original) (31,150 lbf (138.6 kN) starting) 29,500 lbf (131 kN) (rebuild)
Career Number in class 18 Numbers 439–446 588–597 Locale North Island Main Trunk First run 1909 Last run 1957 Retired 1935–1957 Current owner Feilding & Districts Steam Rail Society (1) Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

Overview

When the first X was completed in 1908 at NZR's Addington Workshops in Christchurch, it was the very first 4-8-2 tender locomotive built in the world. The 4-8-2 design went on to be popular in the United States and was nicknamed the "Mountain" type; one theory suggests this name stems from the mountainous terrain that inspired the X's design,^[1] while another suggests the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway first coined the name in reference to its 4-8-2s of 1911 that were built to operate in the Allegheny Mountains.

The X class were restricted to the 93 miles (150 km) Taumarunui to Taihape section for some years, as the track north and south was 53 lb/yd (26 kg/m) rather than 70 lb/yd (35 kg/m) and their trains were restricted to 25 mph (40 km/h) for passengers and 20 mph (32 km/h) for freight. This caused frustration to general manager Hiley who wanted them used over the entire NIMT (they had had to be partially dismantled for their initial journey to Taihape).^[2]

The X class initially operated as the freight counterpart of the passenger A class, but they struggled to reach speeds higher than 50 km/h (31 mph).^[1] They were built as de Glehn compound locomotives, but during the 1940s most of the class were converted to simple-expansion superheated locomotives.^[3] This increased their power but did not prolong their lives and most were officially withdrawn on 2 March 1957.^[3] However, a few had withdrawn before this and two were sold in 1946 to the Ohai Railway Board (ORB), which operated a private industrial line at the end of the Wairio Branch.

Preservation

When the Ohai Railway Board introduced diesel locomotives introduced diesel locomotives in 1968, X 442 was donated to the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society, and it was eventually stored at the Ferrymead Railway in Christchurch.^[4] In 2002, X 442 was relocated to the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society depot in Feilding.^[5] Two X class boilers are held by Mainline Steam Heritage Trust.