New South Wales Z13 class locomotive

The New South Wales Z13 class was a class of 4-4-2T steam locomotives operated by the New South Wales Government Railways of Australia.

History
Due to a shortage of suburban engines in the Sydney area and the availability of surplus C79 class tender engines, it was decided to experimentally convert one of the tender locomotives to a tank type engine in 1896. The conversion proved successful and a further 19 had been converted at Eveleigh Railway Workshops by 1902.

Following the delivery of C30 class locomotives from 1903, they were transferred to Newcastle suburban traffic and when replaced there, were allocated minor roles such as working the Carlingford, Morpeth and Warren branches. Two were sold to East Greta Mining & Railway Company, one to Ashtonfields Colliery, Thornton and a fourth scrapped.

As part of the 1924 reclassification scheme, the remaining 16 were reclassified as the Z13 class and renumbered 1301 to 1316. In later years, their main duties were working of the Ballina branch, the Picton to Mittagong Loop line, the Yass Town branch and school trains on the North Coast line from Coffs Harbour to Kempsey and Casino to Border Loop.

Preservation
Three have been preserved:
 * 1301 by the NSW Rail Museum, initially at Enfield Locomotive Depot, then Thirlmere from 1975
 * 1307 by the New South Wales Transport Museum, initially at Enfield Locomotive Depot, then Thirlmere from 1975, transferred to Yass Railway Heritage Centre in 1999
 * 1308 by the New South Wales Transport Museum, initially at Enfield Locomotive Depot, then Thirlmere from 1975, transferred to Valley Heights