The principal overseas manufacturers were professional locomotive makers who had enjoyed a
world renowned reputation for sound and reliable engineering and based their locomotive designs
generally on their 'standard' models being turned out for the world's railways and industries.
With the exception of the American Climax and Heisler purpose built locomotives, almost all
of the imported engines were rod locomotives.
New Zealand inventors were not far behind, however and the bush tramways saw the introduction
of geared engines from companies such as A & G Price Ltd., G & D Davidson of Hokitika,
Gibbons & Harris Ltd. of Auckland and J. Johnston & Sons, Invercargill. There were
other weird contraptions made by bush engineers
There were many manufacturers of locomotives used on New Zealand bush tramways.
Locomotives came from England, Scotland, Australia and the United States while New Zealand
contributed from several engineering companies. In addition to these, Kiwi ingenuity also
prevailed and not a few lokeys were made in sawmill workshops, not quite from the traditional
number eight fencing wire but from an assortment of bits and pieces that just happened to be lying around.
W.G. Bagnall Ltd., Stafford, England
John Clark, Hobart, Tasmania
Davenport Locomotive Works, Davenport, Iowa, USA
John Fowler & Co., Leeds, England
Heisler Locomotive Works, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
J. Johnston & Sons Ltd., Invercargill, NZ
Kerr Stuart & Co. Ltd. California Works, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Manning, Wardle & Co., Boyne Engine Works, Leeds, England
Nasmyth, Wilson & Co. Ltd., Manchester, England
Bill Oates, Okarito, Westland, NZ
Peckett & Sons Ltd., Atlas Works, Bristol, England
Rail Tractors Ltd. Wellington, NZ
O. W. Smith, Mamaku, NZ
Union Foundry, Stratford, NZ
Vulcan Foundry Ltd., Newton-le-Willows, England
R.T. Watson Charming Creek, Westland, NZ
Adamson Motor Co., Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Alexander Chaplin & Co. Cranstonhill Engine Works, Glasgow, Scotland
Alexander Shanks & Sons Ltd., Arbroath, Scotland
American Locomotive Works (ALCO), Dunkirk, New Jersey, USA
Anchor Foundry Ltd. Nelson, NZ
Aveling & Porter Ltd., Rochester, EnglandAvonside Engine Works, Bristol, England
Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co., Kilmarnock, Scotland
Black, Hawthorn & Co. Ltd., Gateshead-on-Tyne, England
Charles Burrell & Sons, Thetford, Norfolk, England
A & T Burt Ltd. Dunedin, NZ
Brookville Locomotive Co., Brookville, Pennsylvania, USA
Climax Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Corry, Pennsylvania, USA
Conyers & Davidson, Otago Foundry, Dunedin, NZ - Refer James Davidson & Co.
Davey, Paxman & Co. Ltd., Colchester, England
James Davidson & Co., Otago Foundry, Dunedin, NZ
Dispatch Foundry Co. Greymouth, NZ
Dorset Ironfoundry Co. Ltd., West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, England
Drewry Car Co., Birmingham, England
Dubs & Co., Glasgow, Scotland
Fraser, Wischart & Buchanan, Dunedin, NZ
F. C. Hibberd & Co. Ltd., London, England (Planet)
Henry Hughes & Co., Loughborough, England
R.W. Holmes, Wellington, NZ
Robert Holt & Sons Ltd., Napier, NZ
J & F Howard Ltd., Bedford, England
Hudswell, Clarke & Co., Leeds, England
Hunslet Engine Co. Leeds, England. Hunslet Barclay Ltd. 1988. (Now Aurica group 1992)
Hunt & Opie, Victoria Foundry, Ballarat, Australia
Kincaid & McQueen, Vulcan Foundry, Dunedin
Kitson & Co., Airedale Foundry, Leeds, England
Marshall, Sons & Co. Britannia Iron Works, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England.
H.E. Melhop & Co. Invercargill, NZ
Merryweather & Sons Ltd., Greenwich, England
E. W. Mills, Lion Foundry, Wellington, NZ
Motor Rail & Tramcar Co. Ltd., Bedford, England (Simplex)
Neilson & Co., Glasgow, Scotland
New Zealand Railways, Addington, Chistchurch, NZ
J.J. Niven & Co., Wellington, NZ
H.K. Porter Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, USA.
A & G Price Ltd., Thames, NZ
Robey & Co. Ltd., Lincoln, England
Thomas Robinson & Co. Soho Foundry, Ballarat, Australia
Thomas Robinson & Son Ltd., Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Ruston & Hornsby Ltd. Lincoln, England
R.S. Sparrow & Co. Dunedin, NZ
Robert Stephenson & Co. Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Wilson Bros. Invercargill, NZ
Yorkshire Engine Co. Ltd., Sheffield, England
