NZR WE class

{{Short description|Class of New Zealand 4-6-4T locomotives}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:NZR W^E class}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = NZR W^E class

| powertype = Steam

| image = "We" class steam locomotive No 198 (4-6-4T type). ATLIB 307350.png

| alt =

| caption = W^E class No. 198

| designer =

| builder = NZGR Addington Workshops

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber =

| buildmodel =

| builddate = 1902, 1943

| totalproduction = 3

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| whytetype = 4-6-4T

| uicclass =

| gauge = {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}}

| leadingdiameter =

| driverdiameter = {{convert|42.5|in|m|3|abbr=on}}

| trailingdiameter =

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase =

| length =

| width =

| height =

| axleload =

| weightondrivers = {{convert|35|LT|abbr=on}}

| locoweight = {{convert|55.2|LT|t ST|1|abbr=off}}

| tenderweight =

| locotenderweight =

| tendertype =

| fueltype = Coal

| fuelcap =

| watercap =

| tendercap =

| sandcap =

| boiler =

| boilerpressure = {{convert|180|lbf/in2|kPa|0|abbr=on}}

| feedwaterheater =

| firearea = {{convert|17.5|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| tubearea =

| fluearea =

| tubesandflues =

| fireboxarea =

| totalsurface = {{convert|1037|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| superheatertype =

| superheaterarea =

| cylindercount = Two, outside

| cylindersize = {{convert|16|x|22|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| frontcylindersize=

| rearcylindersize =

| hpcylindersize =

| lpcylindersize =

| valvegear =

| valvetype =

| valvetravel =

| valvelap =

| valvelead =

| transmission =

| maxspeed =

| poweroutput =

| tractiveeffort = {{convert|15780|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}

| factorofadhesion =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes =

| locobrakeforce =

| trainbrakes =

| safety =

| operator = NZR

| operatorclass =

| powerclass =

| numinclass =

| fleetnumbers =

| officialname =

| nicknames =

| axleloadclass =

| locale = West Coast

| deliverydate =

| firstrundate =

| lastrundate =

| retiredate =

| withdrawndate = 1964-1969

| preservedunits =

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner =

| disposition = Withdrawn, Scrapped

| notes =

}}

The NZR W^E Class were rebuilt from earlier Sharp Stewart built B class locomotives. In service, the first two were tried on the Rimutaka Incline, however, they lacked the required adhesion on the 1 in 15 (6.67%) grade. They were later transferred to Greymouth for use on the Rewanui Incline, where they were far more successful, on the railway line's 1 in 25 (4%) grade. It is not known if they ever operated on the Roa Incline.

The three We class locomotives lasted until 1964 with the last ones withdrawn from service in 1969.{{sfn|Palmer|Stewart|1965|p=81}}