The NZR WE 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 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.[1]