# NZR BB class

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Class of New Zealand steam locomotives

NZR BB class BB class 4-8-0 steam locomotive, NZR number 619, circa 1915. Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library. Type and origin Power type Steam Builder A & G Price, Thames, New Zealand[1] Serial number 63–92 Build date 1915 (12), 1916 (8), 1917 (8), 1918 (2) Specifications Configuration: ​ • Whyte 4-8-0 • UIC 2'Dh Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 42.5 in (1.080 m) Length 52 ft 7+1⁄2 in (16.04 m) Adhesive weight 32.5 long tons (33.0 t; 36.4 short tons) Loco weight 43.5 long tons (44.2 t; 48.7 short tons) Tender weight 25.5 long tons (25.9 t; 28.6 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 4 long tons (4.1 t; 4.5 short tons) Water cap. 1,700 imp gal (7,700 L; 2,000 US gal) Firebox: ​ • Grate area 16.8 sq ft (1.56 m2) Boiler pressure 175 psi (1.21 MPa) Heating surface 724 sq ft (67.3 m2) Superheater: ​ • Heating area 208 sq ft (19.3 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 17 in × 22 in (432 mm × 559 mm) Performance figures Maximum speed 40 mph (64 km/h) Tractive effort 20,940 lbf (93.1 kN) Career Number in class 30 Numbers 55, 109, 143, 144, 147, 167, 169, 171, 197, 222, 618–637 Preserved 1 (BB 144) Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The **NZR BB class** of [steam locomotives](/source/Locomotive#Steam) comprised 30 engines operated by the [New Zealand Railways](/source/New_Zealand_Railways_Department) (NZR) in the [North Island](/source/North_Island) of [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). Ordered to replace smaller locomotives of several classes in the North Island, they were similar in design and appearance to the preceding [B](/source/NZR_B_class_(1899)) and [BA](/source/NZR_Ba_class) classes. The first BB class locomotive entered service in February 1915, with the last to commence operations doing so on 8 March 1917. All were built by [A & G Price](/source/A_%26_G_Price) Ltd of [Thames, New Zealand](/source/Thames%2C_New_Zealand), and as their cylinders had a larger diameter than the B and BA locomotives they were capable of generating more power to haul heavier trains. The most visible difference however was the roundtop firebox in place of the preceding classes Belpaire design. The BB class could haul up to 700 long tons (710 t; 780 short tons) of freight on a level railway line, though they were limited to a top speed of around 40 mph (64 km/h).

## Service

The BB class did not solely haul freight trains. They were also utilised to haul passenger trains, generally, on [branch lines](/source/Branch_line) where light track meant trains could not be operated at speeds unattainable for the BB class. These trains included services for miners working in coal mines along branches in the [Waikato](/source/Waikato) region (e.g. [Glen Massey Branch](/source/Glen_Massey_Branch)). However, they arrived at the same time as the AB class Pacific, and as these proved equally adept at hauling freight trains of similar tonnage they were proliferated while no further BB types were ordered.

In the latter days of steam, powerful locomotives such as the [K class](/source/NZR_K_class_(1932)) were hauling heavy trains that the [C class](/source/NZR_C_class_(1930)) and other [shunting locomotives](/source/Shunter) at yards and depots simply could not handle. Accordingly, ten members of the BB class were modified to perform shunting duties between 1932 and 1938, and they successfully took on the heaviest of roles.

Most BB locomotives survived into the 1960s. In later years they were concentrated at the yards in [Auckland](/source/Auckland), [Frankton](/source/Frankton%2C_Waikato) and [Palmerston North](/source/Palmerston_North). In the mid-1960s four were sent to Dunedin and Invercargill. During that decade, the complete withdrawal of the class was undertaken progressively, with the last two, BB 626 and BB 633, formally removed from service in August 1968. Another one of the last to be withdrawn was BB 144 in October 1967. It was purchased by Les Hostick. Today it is leased to Ian Welch and is under restoration at the [Mainline Steam Heritage Trust](/source/Mainline_Steam_Heritage_Trust)'s [Parnell](/source/Parnell%2C_New_Zealand) depot. No other BB locomotive has been preserved.

## See also

- [NZR B class (1899)](/source/NZR_B_class_(1899))

- [NZR BA class](/source/NZR_BA_class)

- [NZR BC class](/source/NZR_BC_class)

- [Locomotives of New Zealand](/source/Locomotives_of_New_Zealand)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPalmerStewart1965104_1-0)** [Palmer & Stewart 1965](#CITEREFPalmerStewart1965), p. 104.

### Bibliography

- Millar, Sean (2011). *The NZR Steam Locomotive*. Wellington: [New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society](/source/New_Zealand_Railway_and_Locomotive_Society). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-908573-89-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-908573-89-9).

- Palmer, A. N.; Stewart, W. W. (1965). *Cavalcade of New Zealand Locomotives*. Wellington: [A H. & A W. Reed](/source/Reed_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-207-94500-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-207-94500-7).

- Stewart, W. W. (1974). *When Steam was King*. Wellington: [A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd](/source/Reed_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-589-00382-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-589-00382-1).

## External links

- [New Zealand Railways Steam Locomotives - Class BB](http://www.trainweb.org/nzsteam/bb_reg.htm)

- [Official website of Mainline Steam, owners of BB 144](http://www.mainlinesteam.co.nz/)

v t e Rail vehicles of New Zealand Diesel locomotives Mainline DA (inc. DAA, DAR) DB (inc. DBR) DC (inc. DCP) DF (English Electric) DF (General Motors) inc. DFT, DFB, DFM DG (inc. DH of 1956) DI DJ DL DM DQ and QR DX (inc. DXB, DXC, DXR) Shunt DE DH of 1978 DS DSA DSB DSC DSG DSH (on order) DSJ TR Electric locomotives 1500 V DC EA (later EO of 1968) EC ED EO of 1923 EW 25 kV AC EF Battery E EB Diesel multiple units ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit ADL/ADC class diesel multiple unit Electric multiple units 1500 V DC (Wellington) "English Electric" DM (inc. D trailers) "Ganz Mavag" EM (inc. ET trailers) "Matangi" FP (inc. FT trailers) "Tūhono" BEMU (on order) 25 kV AC (Auckland) AM (inc. AMP, AMT, AMA) Railcars RM class 88 seater (also known as Fiats or twinsets) Clayton steam railcar Edison battery-electric railcar Red Terror railcar Midland railcar Leyland experimental petrol railcar McEwan Pratt petrol railcar Model T Ford railcar Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar Silver Fern railcar Standard railcar Thomas Transmission railcar Vulcan railcar Wairarapa railcar Westinghouse railcar Others A 88 Buckhurst petrol carriage Steam locomotives A of 1873 A of 1906 (inc. AD) AA AB B of 1874 B of 1899 BA BB BC C of 1873 C of 1930 D of 1874 D of 1929 E of 1872 & 1875 E of 1906 F FA (inc. FB) G of 1874 G Garratt of 1928 (inc. Pacific rebuild) H J of 1874 J of 1939 JA JB K of 1877 K of 1932 KA KB L LA M N NA NC O OA OB OC P of 1876 P of 1885 Q of 1878 Q of 1901 R S T U UA UB UC UD V W WA WAB WB WD WE WF WG WH WJ WS WW X Y Locomotive hauled carriages 50-foot carriage 56-foot carriage AC class (Grassgrubs) ex-British Rail Mark 2 carriage AK carriage FM class guards van SX carriages Track evaluation, cranes, and maintenance ETM class track evaluation car EL class rail cranes ETM class rail maintenance equipment Locomotives of New Zealand Rail transport in New Zealand Railway preservation in New Zealand.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [NZR BB class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_BB_class) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_BB_class?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.