NZR EW class.html |
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 EW 1805 with DC 4611 near Paekakariki. Photo by Alan Wickens |
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| Power type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | English Electric, United Kingdom |
| UIC classification | Bo-Bo-Bo |
| Gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Length | 18.9 metres (62 ft 0 in) |
| Weight on drivers | 76 tonnes (75 LT, 84 ST) |
| Locomotive weight | 76 tonnes (75 LT, 84 ST) |
| Electric system(s) | 1500-volt DC |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Traction motors | 6 |
| Top speed | 97 km/h (60 mph) |
| Power output | 1,340 kW (1,800 hp) |
| Tractive effort | 104 kN (23,000 lbf) |
| Class | EW |
| Number in class | 7 |
| Locale | Wellington region |
| First run | 1952 |
| Last run | 1988 |
| Disposition | 5 scrapped 2 preserved |
The NZR EW class locomotive was a class of electric locomotive used in Wellington, New Zealand. The classification 'EW' was due to their being electric locomotives allocated to Wellington. They were built by English Electric in 1952 and hauled mainly passenger trains on the region's 1500 V DC electrification, and banked trains between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay.
They were the first class of locomotive in New Zealand to utilise the Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement, the other classes being the DJ class and the EF class. In both cases, this wheel arrangement was used to provide a lower axle-load due to track conditions. The EW class is different though, as the locomotive is articulated in the middle over the centre bogie where as the two newer classes have sideplay in the centre bogie.
During the 1960s the tunnels on this section were lowered so that DA class diesel locomotives could handle trains all the way through to Wellington. With the introduction of the EM class units in 1982, the class was further displaced. An attempt was made to use two members of the class on the Otira - Arthur's Pass electrified section in the South Island, but nothing came of this. All were withdrawn from service by 1988. Two remain preserved today, one at Ferrymead in Christchurch and one at Mainline Steam in Plimmerton, north of Wellington.
List of Locomotives
Note that in the table, the hyphen within the TMS number is there to separate the road number from the check digit - it is not present in the actual locomotive number.
| Key: | In Service | Leased to ARTA | Withdrawn | Preserved | Under Repair | Scrapped |
|---|
| TMS number | Original number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10-7 | 1800 | Scrapped |
| 11-3 | 1801 | Scrapped at Woolston 1988 |
| 13-6 | 1802 | Written off 1981, scrapped |
| 14-2 | 1803 | Scrapped |
| 15-9 | 1804 | Scrapped |
| 16-5 | 1805 | Preserved by Mainline Steam |
| 17-1 | 1806 | Preserved by Ferrymead Railway |