NZR J class (1939)

The NZR J class of 1939 was a class of forty 4-8-2 steam locomotives built by the North British Locomotive Company for the New Zealand Railways Department. The order went to Britain because the New Zealand railway workshops were busy building the KA and KB classes. Designed for lighter secondary lines, the locomotives were also used on mainline express passenger and freight trains, and they were first delivered with distinctive bullet-nosed streamlining, which was removed from 1947 onwards for maintenance reasons. Twelve were later converted to oil burning and reclassified JB. The improved JA class followed from the Hillside workshops. Three J class locomotives remained in service until steam ended on 26 October 1971 and were preserved.