NZR WF Class - Preservation

Preservation

Three WF class locomotives were donated for preservation:

• WF 386 (NZR Addington 66/1905) was used from 1958 to 1958 as the resident shunting locomotive at NZR Otahuhu. On its withdrawal, the locomotive was donated by NZR to the City of Taumarunui in recognition of the part the locomotive played in hauling the Parliamentary Special of 1908, the first train to cross the North Island Main Trunk. In 1978, Steam Incorporated of Paekakariki enquired as to the possibility of acquiring WF 386 and returning it to service. This was agreed to and the locomotive was transported by road to Paekakariki where Steam Inc volunteers began to dismantle it for overhaul. Unfortunately the overhaul was stopped shortly after the locomotive was disassembled. Following this, the frames of WF 386 were stored on two x-25330 'Timken' passenger carriage bogies in the Paekakariki yard, with other parts stored around the site, until the decision was made in early 2013 to move the parts into the carriage shed in order to protect them from further deterioration. As the locomotive's use would be limited, there are no plans to return WF 386 to service in the long term.

• WF 393 (A & G Price 5/1904) was withdrawn from NZR service at Linwood in Christchurch in 1967 and stored at Linwood Locomotive Depot until 1968. It was then donated by the Minister for Railways, the Hon. J. B. Gordon, to the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society (Canterbury Branch) for preservation on their Ferrymead Railway. The locomotive was then trucked from Linwood to Ferrymead in 1968 and placed on a short length of track beside the former Ferrymead wharf, minus its cowcatchers. When withdrawn from service, WF 393 had a suspect firebox that would have required repairs before the locomotive could be returned to service. It is currently stored in the locomotive shed at Moorhouse behind WD 357 and Price Cb 113, and there are no plans, long-term or otherwise, to restore it to operational condition. The WF has occasionally come outside for display during special events, the last instance being Easter Weekend in 2003.

• WF 403 (NZR Hillside 77/1907) was withdrawn from service at Greymouth in 1969 and towed to Linwood Locomotive Depot for storage. It was donated to the City of Nelson in 1973 in recognition of the four WF class locomotives used on the Nelson Section, and placed on display in Nelson after receiving cosmetic attention. The locomotive was later given to the Grand Tapawera Railroad Company who intended to restore it to working condition. However, the locomotive's firebox required repairs before the locomotive could operate again, and the overhaul ceased after local company Anchor Dorman gas-cut the inner firebox out by questionable methods. The boiler shell was later replaced on the frames and the locomotive went on display at Founders Park in Nelson, the new home of the Nelson Railway Society. In the early 2000s, the overhaul was restarted and by 2009 the locomotive had been largely overhauled to operating standards, with the exception of the boiler. Work was being focused on fitting a new inner firebox made by Lyttelton Engineering, with the intention of returning the locomotive to working order.