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A & G Price Ltd., Thames

Price was uncharacteristically innovative with their 1927 Type Ar, a two-truck Meyer type locomotive weighing 32 tonnes and having two cylinders on each truck driving to a jackshaft thence through gears to the axles. This was the biggest geared locomotive to operate in New Zealand and was in service until 1946.

This, their first steam locomotive, employed two cylinders arranged horizontally and driving through spur gears to the two axles. It was constructed for a three-foot gauge tramway in the Te Aroha goldfields where it stayed but a short time before entering the bush where it performed until 1908. The Government Public Works Department then acquired it for railway construction in the South Island before finally scrapping it in 1917. Only one lokey of this type was built.

The little 0-4-0 geared Price of 1885 working for the Smyth brothers at Kennedy Bay. _{(H. Winkelmann)}

1912 0-4-4-4-4-0 Price 16-Wheeler

The 16-wheeler was a copy of several designs, the concept coming from the earlier Johnston 16-wheeler but using skew bevel gears based on the Climax A. A vertical two-cylinder marine type engine (cylinders 7½” x 10” – 190 x 254 mm) mounted in the cab and driving a line shaft via a two-speed transmission drove the locomotive. Skew bevels then provided drive to all axles. It was designed to negotiate a 66 feet (20-metre) radius curve and weighed 36 tonnes, being heavier than its Johnston counterpart, and with an axle loading of 2.25 tonnes. Like most geared engines they were not particularly fast and did not perform on line haul work but did a magnificent job on the bush branch trackage. Four 16-wheelers were constructed, the very first one in 1912 lasting in service until 1951, a good record.

The Mountain Rimu Timber Co. Price 16-wheeler at Mamaku. _{(Percy Godber)}

Length 32’-3” (9843 mm), Wheelbase 24’-4” (7417 mm), Truck wheelbase 2’-6” (762 mm), Boiler pressure 160 psi (1103 kPa), Wheel diam. 20” (508 mm)

1912 0-4-4-0 Price-C

The Type C was essentially a copy of the Climax A and weighed about 12 tonnes. A two-cylinder vertical cab-mounted engine drove through spur gears to the line shaft below. Two speed changes were available from a pair of shifting spur gears on the crankshaft engaging with a corresponding pair on the line shaft with dog clutches between. The gear ratios in this set-up were 2:1 and 3:1 and final drive to the axles was by skew bevels. The truck design was similar to Climax but used inside frames and smaller diameter wheels. They were designed to negotiate 50 feet (15.2 metre) curves and grades up to 1 in 10. There were only two Type C engines built in 1921 and 1922, the latter lasting until 1964.

Price's Type C, working for Taringamutu Totara Sawmills,Taringamotu._{(J.A.T. Terry)}

Length 26’-0” (7925 mm), Wheelbase 18’-2” (5537 mm), Truck wheelbase 2’-8” (813 mm), Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa), Cylinders 7” x 8” (178 x 203 mm), Wheel diam. 22” (559 mm).

1912 0-4-4-0 Price-D

The Type D was introduced in the 1920s but only one was ever constructed. It was offered as a lightweight engine therefore less expensive to purchase and suited to very light rail. At 8 tonnes it resembled the Type C but it appeared on the market when successful rail tractors were coming forward, these performing the same tasks more effectively and economically.

The neat little Type D ready to leave the Thames works.
_{(A & G Price)}

Length 20’-2” (6198 mm), Wheelbase 15’-8” (4775 mm), Truck wheelbase 2’-8” (813 mm), Boiler pressure 140 psi (965 kPa), Cylinders 6” x 7” (152 x 178 mm), Wheel diam. 20” (508 mm).

1923 0-4-4-0 Price-E

The Type E could be said to be a straight copy of the Climax B but used the Price copy of the Heisler truck. The line shaft drove the leading axle via a straight bevel gear and coupling rods transmitted the power to the trailing axle. The locomotive competed with both the Climax and Heisler on the New Zealand scene. Piston valves were used on this 23 to 26 tonne lokey. Four of this type were built, but later a heavier, upgraded version was made (see below). Photo _{(A & G Price)}

The enlarged photo shows a Type E as delivered to George Syme in the Matahina forest, 1936. _{(P. Mahoney)}

Length 27’-6” (8382 mm), Wheelbase 20’-9” (6325 mm), Truck wheelbase 3’-9” (1143 mm), Boiler pressure 160 psi (1103 kPa), Cylinders 9½” x 12” (241 x 305 mm), Wheel diam. 28” (711 mm).

1924 0-4-4-0 Price-Ca

The Ca model was an improved Type C with an enclosed cab and Price’s Heisler styled trucks with side rods. The sole example was built in 1923 and in use at Steele Bros., Mamaku until 1951 when it was damaged in a collision and written off.

1925 0-4-4-0 Price-Cb

The Type Cb was a very useful engine and four were constructed, one of which survives in steam today. Similar to the Type C it was more refined and added the Heisler styled trucks. The overall gear ratios, with two speed ranges, were 3.85:1 and 5.75:1. All up weight was approximately 12 tonnes. One problem these lokeys had was that the axle gear was only 1-1/8 inches (28.5 mm) above the track and often the gear would come into contact with the ground. This would remove the lubrication in a few revolutions and proceed to act like a grinding paste, thus decreasing the gear life considerably.

A trim Cb about to leave the works. _{(A & G Price)}

Length 25’-3” (7696 mm), Wheelbase 18’-8” (5690 mm), Truck wheelbase 2’-8” (813 mm), Boiler pressure 160 psi (1103 kPa), Cylinders 7” x 8” (178 x 203 mm), Wheel diam. 22” (564 mm), Weight 12 tons.

1926 0-4-4-0 Price-Ar

This Meyer type locomotive was the heaviest bush lokey in service and was specially made for the Port Craig operation of the Marlborough Timber Co. where it replaced two Johnston A -type lokeys. The two-truck design was fitted with piston valve cylinders mounted on the trucks and driving a jackshaft from which drive was taken to the two axles by spur gears. Weighing 32 tonnes, this engine was quite successful and when the Marlborough operation closed in 1930 and after remaining idle until 1939, it was transferred to the North Island where it served the Gamman show at Mamaku until 1946.

The one and only Type Ar standing on the Thames turntable. _{(A & G Price)}

Length 31’-3” (9528 mm), Wheelbase 20’-4” (6206 mm), Truck wheelbase 3’-1” (948 mm), Boiler pressure 160 psi (1103 kPa), Cylinders 7Ό” x 12” (184 x 305 mm), Wheel diam. 28” (711 mm).

1927 0-4-4-0 Price-Cba

All things progress and the Type Cba was a development of the Cb having both fuel and water carried behind the cab. A Belpaire firebox was fitted. Otherwise the specifications were very close to the Type Cb. Only one was built in 1928 as the rail tractors were appearing and proving more cost effective. The Cba lasted in service until 1954 so it gave good service.

Builders photo of the Cba. _{(A & G Price)}

1937 0-4-4-0 Price-E

The later Type E was a heavier machine than its predecessor but again featured piston valves and Heisler type trucks. There were some cab modifications and, with a larger firebox, the boiler was operated at a higher pressure. The locomotive was built for the Taupo Totara Timber Co. and was scrapped in 1958 after some service with the Public Works Department.

The Taupo Totara Timber Co. took delivery of this Type E in 1937. _{(A & G Price)}

Length 26’-2” (7972 mm), Wheelbase 21’-5” (6528 mm), Truck wheelbase 3’-9” (1143 mm), Weight 28.5 tonnes, Boiler pressure 200 psi (1379 kPa), Cylinders 9½” x 12” (241 x 305 mm), Wheel diam. 30” (762 mm).

1943 0-4-4-0 Price-V

The last steam locomotive built by Price was the one and only Type V in 1943. The V was based on the American Heisler with its two cylinders arranged in vee form in front of the firebox. It drove the trucks through conventional universal joints and sliding shafts to a bevel gear on the outer axle. The truck wheels were coupled with a side rod in Heisler fashion. The locomotive served its owner for 17 years and is now in restored order at the Canterbury Steam Preservation Society’s track at McLeans Island. It is worth noting that this loco was built some years after the last Heisler and it may well have been the last geared steam logging locomotive built in the world.

Photo shows the Type V at work with Ogilvies at Gladstone, West Coast. _{(Alan Bellamy)}

Length 27’-3” (8306 mm), Wheelbase 20’-9” (6325 mm), Truck wheelbase 3’-9” (1143 mm), Weight 21.3 tonnes, Boiler pressure 200 psi (1380 kPa), Cylinders 11” x 12” (279 x 305 mm), Wheel diam. 28” (711 mm).

Survivors

• 1922 Type 'C' stored at Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum, Tokomaru
• 1923 Type 'E' held at Rotorua Ngongotaha Rail Trust, Rotorua in very dilapidated condition
• 1924 Type 'Cb' occasionally steamed at Ferrymead Railway, Christchurch
• 1927 Type 'Cb' stored at Bush Tramway Club, Rotowaro
• 1943 Type 'V' occasionally steamed at Canterbury Steam Preservation Society, McLean's Island