Built as J class by North British Glasgow, 1236 has been restored as a JB class oil burner by Mainline Steam. The cars are ex British Rail rebuilt for the Capital Connection train between Palmerston North and Wellington. The occasion for this mainline run was to participate in a KiwiRail sponsored memorial to the locomotive crew of Ka 949 hauling the express train that plunged into a river after a lahar damaged the bridge at Tangiwai on the night of 24/12/1953. There were many heroes that night. The disaster claimed 151 lives.
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust operates steam specials throughout New Zealand from depots in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Each year an inter-island Steam Tour attracts fans from around the world. For more visit www.mainlinesteam.co.nz
