NZR K class (1877)

The vehicles of the class K of the New Zealand National Railways (New Zealand Government Railways, NZR ) were Tender steam locomotives with the wheel arrangement 1'B1 ' and were among the first locomotives in New Zealand. Two of the eight locomotives are preserved in working order.

1877 two locomotives were initially procured from American manufacturers Rogers (No. 87 and 88) that were provided for Express trains on the route between Christchurch and Dunedin, the world's first kapspurige mainline. One of these two locomotives, the No. 88, known as Washington, moved in 1878, together with the Fairlie locomotive Josephine the opening move on this route.

The locomotives proved themselves, and even in 1878, four more locomotives procured (No. 92-97 ).

Externally, the locomotives meet the typical North American locomotives of this time - but apart from the wheel arrangement: the relatively rare type 1'B1 ' has against the spread at this time 2'B the advantage that the firebox and ash pan did not have to be wedged between the drive wheels and therefore could be more generous dimensions, which is particularly on narrow gauges such as the Cape gauge of importance.

By the mid- 1880s were the locomotives of the class K no longer cope with the weight of the trains and the increasingly difficult by the more powerful class N (type 1'C1 ') were replaced. However, they remained in use for lighter services, and some were moved to the North Island. Throughout its period of use they got cabs from sheet metal and new boiler of the type Belpaire ( flat top of the standing boiler ). The withdrawal began in 1922 and was completed in 1927. Some of the locomotives was sunk to combat erosion in the Oreti River.

1932, the class designation K was on locomotives with the wheel arrangement 2'D2 ' newly awarded (see NZR class K ( 1932) )

Early 1970s, was remembered at the restoration of the Kingston Flyer on the Oreti River sank in locomotive No. 88 in 1974 she was recovered and extensively restored until 1982. She was there again a wooden cab; However, because of the retained Belpaire boiler it is not exactly their original form.

In 1985 and 1986 two more locomotives of the class K have been recovered from the river, No. 92 and 94 from the second delivery. No. 92 was also restored operational while No. 94 is currently parked in a state of recovery.