| The Ab class was introduced in 1915 and was designed to the requirements of H.
H. Jackson by the Chief Draughtsman, S. H. Jenkinson. It was a simple, superheated
“Pacific” featuring the cylindrical Vanderbilt tender. Jackson had been impressed
with these tenders on a visit to America and it was adopted because of its light
weight and economy of construction.
Originally the Ab handled all principal express services and main-line freight
services, until the advent of the “K’s” and “J’s” when they were relegated to
to freight haulage on branch and secondary lines. They were rated to haul 700
- 750 tons on easy grades. Every district, except Wellington, had a quota of Ab’s.
Both the North and South Island had the Ab.
Ab663 History
The Ab locomotives handled all types of services, on main lines, secondary routes
and branch lines. Until the 1930’s they were the main express and freight locomotive
for both islands, and could handle 700 tons on easy grades. Many were transferred
to the South Island from the 1950’s and even as late as the 1960’s, an Ab would
be used on express workings. Ab663 was the first Ab to reach Auckland, replacing
the A class Pacific’s on the express train duties and had the honour of hauling
the Royal train for the Prince of Wales out of Auckland in 1920.
It mainly worked on the Main Trunk, based at Taumarunui, where it would have
made many an ascent of the Raurimu Spiral. Ab663 was largely superseded by the
K class locomotives in the 1930’s, but continued to work assisting trains and
on lighter train duties.
In September 1959 Ab663 was transferred to the South Island and after overhaul
at Hillside workshops it was based in Dunedin working the South Island main trunk,
the Otago Central railway and the many other branch lines. It was also based at
Christchurch for a time, and finished its days on the West Coast. It was withdrawn
from service in July 1969.
From 1969 it was stored at the Elmer Lane depot with A428 and in the 1970’s it
was transferred to Invercargill and stripped of parts for the Kingston Flyer locomotives.
It was purchased in 1983 by Ian Welch in a , as is where is, condition and moved
to Wellington in 1984. As 663 had lost its tender some time before it was united
with the tender from Ab 811. Restoration was commenced in the Carpenters Shop
of the NZR Hutt Workshops in 1988 and when these premises were demolished in the
early 1990’s, the locomotive was moved to the Silverstream Railway Museum near
Upper Hutt where the restoration was completed. The locomotive was also converted
from being coal fired to oil fired. The restoration was completed in May 1997
and was named ‘Sharon Lee’ after Ian Welch’s youngest daughter.
Its first Mainline excursion took place in June 1997 when it ran from Wellington
to Taumarunui to join J1211 for a “Double Drivers” excursion.
FURTHER READING
Mainline Steam Trusts Preserved Locomotives - Compiled by Graeme Moffatt
Cavalcade of New Zealand Locomotives - A N Palmer & W W Stewart
Register of New Zealand Railway Steam Locomotives 1863 – 1971 - W G Lloyd
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