Introduced: 1929

Number in Class: 3

G Class Register

Locomotive Specifications

Builder:   Beyer-Peacock & Co. Ltd., Manchester, England

Engine Weight:     145.8 tons	Tender Weight:	Total Weight:    145.8 tons	Adhesive Weight:     87.7 tons
Length over Buffers:     84' 3 3/4"	Total Wheelbase:     76' 7½"	Engine Wheelbase:    25' 5"	Coupled Wheelbase:     10' 9"
Tender Wheelbase:	Driver Wheel Dia.:    57"	Cylinders HP:     Six - 16½" x 24"	Cylinders LP:
Grate Area:    58.2 sq ft	Evaporative Area:     2223 sq ft	Superheated Area:     542 sq ft	Working Pressure:     200 psig
Tractive Effort:     51580 lbs f	Coal Capacity:    6.0 tons	Oil Capacity:	Water Capacity:     4000 gals

Remarks:     The Garratts were ordered to deal with the volume and tonnage of the traffic over the heavy gradients of the North Island and to do away with the excessive use of banking engines. These engines were noteworthy in that the coal bunker was mounted on the boiler cradle behind the cab, instead of in the customary position on the rear engine unit. In addition they were one of the few Garratt designs to employ six cylinders. A mechanical stoker was used, but foreign objects jammed the feed screw and caused many problems. Numerous design faults occurred and the locomotive's fate was sealed when the 'K' class was introduced in 1932. The locomotives were much too powerful for the drawgear then in general use on ordinary rolling stock and relatively short crossing sidings made it impractical to haul loads commensurate with the power of the locomotive.. The three Garratts saw little service and were converted into six Pacific type locomotives. (Refer to Class 'G' 4-6-2)