NZR NC class

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:NZR N^C class}} {{Infobox locomotive | name=NZR N^C class | powertype=Steam | image=Nc Class steam locomotive NZR 462, 2-6-2 type. ATLIB 276918.png | caption=NZR 462, circa 1909 | builddate=1901, 1904 | builder= [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] | serialnumber = 19797, 23594 | locoweight={{convert|39.7|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} | locotenderweight={{convert|63.5|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} | tenderweight={{convert|23.8|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} | whytetype= [[2-6-2]] | firstrundate= | lastrundate= | disposition=Withdrawn | numinclass=2 | weightondrivers={{convert|27.7|LT|t ST|abbr=on}} | wheelbase= | boilerpressure={{convert|180|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} #5<br /> {{convert|200|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} #18 | feedwaterheater= | gauge={{Track gauge|42in|lk=on}} | currentowner= | driverdiameter= {{convert|49|in|m|3|abbr=on}} |totalsurface = {{convert|1091|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} #5 <br /> {{convert|1124|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} #18 |firearea = {{convert|25|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} #5<br /> {{convert|20.4|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} #18 |cylindercount = Four ([[Vauclain compound]]) |hpcylindersize = {{convert|10|x|20|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} |lpcylindersize = {{convert|17|x|20|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | poweroutput= | tractiveeffort={{convert|9720|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}} #5 <br /> {{convert|10800|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}} #18 | maxspeed= | retiredate=September 1928, March 1931 | restoredate= | scrapdate= | locale=[[Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company|Wellington - Longburn section]], [[Wairarapa Line]] | fleetnumbers=WMR 5, 18<br />NZR 461, 462 | length={{convert|54|ft|10|in|abbr=on}} #18 | height= | width= | operator=[[Wellington and Manawatu Railway]], [[New Zealand Government Railways]] | officialname= | fueltype=[[Coal]] | tendercap= }}

The '''NZR N^C class''' was a class of two [[Locomotive#Steam|steam locomotives]] built by [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] built for service on [[New Zealand]]'s private [[Wellington and Manawatu Railway]] (WMR). They did not acquire their N^C classification until the publicly owned [[New Zealand Railways Department]] (NZR) purchased the WMR and its locomotive fleet.

The first member of the N^C class was ordered in 1901 and entered service in May 1902 as WMR No. 5. Another locomotive built to a very similar design was ordered in 1904 and entered service that same year as WMR No. 18. When the locomotives passed into NZR ownership in 1908, they were considered to be similar enough to be classified together, and while they also bore strong similarities to the members of the [[NZR N class|N class]], they were sufficiently different that a separate classification of N^C was used. Their main distinguishing feature was a wider [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]]. They were [[Vauclain compound|Vauclain]] [[compound locomotive]]s.

The two engines served NZR for just over two decades. No. 18, now N^C 462, was retired in September 1928, while No. 5, now N^C 461, remained in service until March 1931. Their final region of operation is believed to be the [[Wairarapa]], and they are known to have worked the line from the [[Hutt Valley]] up the western slope of the [[Rimutaka Range]] to the western end of the [[Rimutaka Incline]]. Together with [[NZR Ob class|O^B]] 455 (ex-WMR No. 11) and [[NZR Ud class|U^D]] 465 (ex-WMR No. 20), N^C 461 was one of the last surviving locomotives of WMR heritage. All three were withdrawn in March 1931.

[[File:Builders photo of WMR No.5.jpg|thumb|Builders photo of WMR No.5 in Baldwin olive green.]]

==External links== *[http://www.trainweb.org/nzsteam/nc_class.html Photo of Nc loco on Trainweb] *Drawings of the Nc class locomotives from Derek Brown: [http://nzrplans.orcon.net.nz/images/wmr3.jpg WMR No. 5/NZR N^C 461] and [http://nzrplans.orcon.net.nz/images/wmr10.jpg WMR No. 18/NZR N^C 462]

== References == {{reflist}}

=== Bibliography === {{refbegin}} * {{NZR Steam Locomotive}} * {{Palmer & Stewart}} * {{When Steam Was King}} {{refend}}

{{NZR Locomotives}}

[[Category:Steam locomotives of New Zealand|Nc class]] [[Category:2-6-2 locomotives]] [[Category:1′C1′ n4v locomotives]] [[Category:Baldwin locomotives]] [[Category:Vauclain compound locomotives]] [[Category:Scrapped locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1901]] [[Category:3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of New Zealand]]