NZR J Class (1874) - Surviving Relics

Surviving Relics

Although none were preserved, relics of J class locomotives can still be seen to this day at sites where the New Zealand Railways Department dumped withdrawn equipment. A locomotive dump near Oamaru had five J class engines dumped there, Js 15, 82, 83, 116, and 117, although these locomotives have since been sucked out to sea, destroyed by the waves or removed from the seawall py protection works carried out by ONTRACK 2008—2009. This dump was also the location of WA 120, which was one of the J's rebuilt as tank engines. Elsewhere, J 61 was dumped cylinderless at Branxholme; two J class boilers and tenders still exist at the Omoto Racecourse dump site; and a J class locomotive is known to have been dumped along the Midland Line between Cass and Arthur's Pass, and the remains of which are believed to have been located scattered in a number of locations along the line. Currently the remnants of the Oamaru foreshore J's are stored at Oamaru Steam & Rail, with some parts having been disseminated elsewhere. It is also possible for another J to be recovered and restored to full working order, and although there have long been hopes for this to occur amongst the railfan community, so far no-one has undertaken such an endeavour.