NZR EC class

The NZR EC class was a class of six electric locomotives bought from English Electric in 1928 to haul trains through the Lyttelton rail tunnel between Lyttelton and Christchurch in New Zealand, replacing steam locomotives whose smoke had become a nuisance in the 2.6 km tunnel. A 1925 report by the English consultancy Merz and McLellan recommended electrifying only the 10 km Lyttelton line, at the same 1.5 kV DC used at Otira. The locomotives were similar to the earlier 1923 EO class but had longer bogies, higher gearing for a top speed of 85 km/h and more powerful motors, and the C in the class name indicated allocation to Christchurch. They could handle freight trains of 600 long tons and the Boat Train. Early motor flashover and armature shaft fractures led to the parallel connections being removed, which halved the voltage to the motors and reduced running speed to 42 km/h. The last electric train ran on 18 September 1970, and EC 7 is preserved at Ferrymead, where it is operated periodically.