NZR B class (1899)

The NZR B class of 1899 was a class of steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's national rail network, reusing the B classification after an earlier class of Double Fairlies had left the railways by the end of 1896. Designed as a larger, more powerful locomotive for mainline freight trains too heavy for the O, P and T classes, they were among New Zealand Railways' most influential designs. The first was built at the Addington Workshops in Christchurch and entered service on 4 May 1899, and an order was placed with Sharp, Stewart and Company of Glasgow for four more, the first of which entered service on 20 December 1899. Five more were built at Addington in 1901 to 1903. They had a new piston valve design and a modified Walschaerts valve gear, and three of the Sharp Stewart engines were later rebuilt as WE class 4-6-4T tank locomotives.