NZR JA Class

NZR JA Class

The NZR JA class were a type of 4-8-2 steam locomotive used on the New Zealand railway network. The class was built in two batches, with the second batch possessing some differences from the first. The first batch was built at Hillside Workshops in 1946-56 and the second batch by the North British Locomotive Works in 1951, and to distinguish between the batches, locomotives are identified by their maker.

The JA class was the last class of steam locomotive built both for and by NZR - Hillside JA 1274 was the last steam locomotive ever built by NZR, and the North British JA's were the last steam locomotives built overseas for the NZR.

The class had relatively short lives of between 12 and 24 years, as they succumbed to dieselisation. Nine JAs lasted until the end of steam on 26 October 1971.