Preserved No. 778 with the Kingston Flyer.

The New Zealand Railway Ab class was a steam locomotive built to operate on New Zealand's national railway system. The first members of the class were constructed in 1915 as a development of the A class, and a total of 141 were made. This means that the Ab class was the most prolific steam locomotive class in New Zealand's history, and the second most prolific class of any New Zealand locomotive, five behind the 146 of the DA class diesel-electrics. The Ab class had a wheel arrangement of 4-6-2. The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Great Western Railway No. ... // National Rail Network The national rail network (currently owned by a State-Owned Enterprise, the New Zealand Railways Corporation) was constructed largely by government entities from 1863 onwards. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The DA class was the most prolific class of locomotive to ever run on New Zealands national railway network. ... The Pennsylvania Railroads class K4s, a well known 4-6-2 type. ...

Efficient and versatile, the Ab class was easy to maintain and operated on almost all parts of New Zealand's network hauling just about any kind of train. The locomotives were suited to both passengers and freight, able to run passenger expresses at speeds of 100 km/h (60 mph) or goods trains of 700+ tonnes on easy grades. The Ab was reputedly the first engine able to generate 1 horsepower for every 100 pounds of weight.

The Ab class lasted until the end of steam in New Zealand (the final regular service hauled by a steam engine was headed by a member of the Ja class on 26 October 1971) and two were retained to operate the Kingston Flyer, possibly New Zealand's most famous heritage railway. The Flyer has now passed into private ownership and it is still run by Ab 778 and Ab 795. October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

The Wab class of 1917 was a tank locomotive version of the Ab class. New Zealand Railways Wab and Ws class 4-6-4t Designed by NZR chief draughtsman S.H. Jenkinson as a tank version of the Ab class locomotive, these locomotives were initially classified in two groups thus, Wab for mainline work and Ws for suburban work. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... A tank locomotive (occasionally tank engine) is a steam locomotive that carries its own fuel and water with it, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. ...

External link

• Official website of the Kingston Flyer

Reference

• Heath, Eric, and Stott, Bob; Classic Steam Locomotives Of New Zealand, Grantham House, 1993