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New Zealand Diesel and Electric Traction
EB / E
NZR Class EB, E
Road Numbers: EB 25 to EB 29, E 1
TMS Numbers: EB 1809, EB 1815, EB 1821
| EB | E | |
| Type | Battery Electric; rebuilt as Diesel-Electric | Battery Electric |
| Introduced | 1925 - 29 | 1922 |
| Number in class | 5 | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Goodman Manufacturing Co, USA; rebuilt by NZR | English Electric Co, UK |
| Gauge | 1067 mm | 1067 mm |
| Axles | Bo | Bo |
| Length | 6.2 m | |
| Weight in working order |
Original: 12 tons; Rebuilt:14 tons |
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| Battery | 120 Edison A12 cells | |
| Engine | AEC Comet Mark III | |
| Main generator | BTH DY4835 | |
| Traction motors | 2 x Goodman 41B | |
| Power |
Original: 23 kW / 32 hp; Rebuilt: 48 kW / 65 hp |
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| Continuous tractive effort |
Original: 14 kN; Rebuilt: 21 kN |
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| Speed |
Original: 20 km/h |
In 1922, the English Electric Co supplied six locomotives to NZR for use on the newly electrified Otira section. Five were the EO class operating off the 1500VDC overhead, and one was E 1, a battery electric locomotive for maintenance work.
The first EB was ordered in 1925 and put to work at the NZGR's Frankton house factory. After the factory closed in 1929, the loco was transferred to Addington Workshops. A further four locomotives were ordered in 1929 for Otahuhu, Hutt, Addington and Hillside Workshops. Due to the cost of replacing the batteries, diesel electric conversion was mooted in 1937, but not carried out; instead, replacement batteries were purchased.
The locos were rebuilt in NZR workshops around 1953 as diesel-electrics with the original centre cab replaced by an end cab and a hood fitted to carry the military surplus diesel engine and generator. In trials, one EB managed to haul a 140-ton KA class steam locomotive with all its rods still coupled. They continued in workshops service through to the 1970s, withdrawals beginning in 1976. One of the class is preserved at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland. A second loco was purchased for preservation in Christchurch but was later scrapped. There is also an EB preserved at Napier which used to work at the workshops there. It was reclassified/renumbered a few years ago as TR 1003. E 1 was scrapped around 1930A locomotive of a similar type to the EB class which worked at a dairy factory in the Waikato region has been preserved by the Bush Tramway Club. It remained as a battery electric for its entire life.
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ROAD NO. |
TMS NO. |
NOTES |
| EB 25 | - | Written off 1978. Preserved by Museum of Transport & Technology, Auckland. |
| EB 26 | 1809 | Later reclassified TR 1003. Preserved at Awatoto as EB 26. |
| EB 27 | - | Written off Hillside 1976 and scrapped. |
| EB 28 | 1815 | Written off 1980. |
| EB 29 | 1821 | Written off 1980. |
| E 1 | Written off approx 1930. |
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EB 1809 |
© Patrick Dunford. Last updated 19 November 2005. Check here for the most current information on locomotive status.
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