The 2nd loco to be recovered from the Oreti river was K-92 in 1985. The loco’s restoration began under the leadership of the
Fiordland Vintage Machinery Museum, Te Anau. The partially restored K-92 was brought up to steamable condition by 1991, then
restored to Running order by 1997 in Dunedin. Hard times forced the sale of the loco to the Waimea Plains Railway Trust board
in 2000. It was then moved to Kingston for final cosmetic restoration. It steamed again, the first time in three years, in
June 2003.
Where the K-88 is painted to resemble the US locomotive as it might have looked in the 1880s, the K-92 represents how the class
looked around 1904 when the original Rogers wagon top boiler was replaced by a Belpair type boiler. Looking over the loco
closely reveals much about the extent of original componentry on the loco. The original parts are clearly visible in their
slightly pitted/corroded state. The Boiler is original from the 1904 rebuild, the entire frame, wheels, equalizers and even valve
gear are original to 1878. The tender frame and tender trucks are also original. Those pitted but functional chassis components
are a direct link to the Hudson Doubler Ender, with these very parts having been fabricated in Patterson New Jersey in 1878.
As part owner Neville Simpson explains; “K-92 was originally assigned to the Christchurch to Rangitata section under the permanent
charge of a driver by the name of Frank Berry. Some months after K-92 entered service, Frank was fined for breaking the 15 - 20 mph
speed limit imposed on the Rangitata, Ashburton and Rakaia bridges whilst taking the North bound express to Christchurch. The fine
was revoked 6 months later due to Frank having the cleanest engine on the section.
“The Rogers is a lovely little engine to drive. We are burning West Coast coal and she steams extremely well, though the fireman
has to be on the ball. I find firing little and often with the back corners of the firebox fairly heavy the best way. The injectors
are 7 1/2" Sellars instead of the 6 1/2" standard for these locos, and so the injector only has to be on for short periods. One
draw back is she will prime very easily and so it pays to keep the water level no more than 1/2 glass.
“It is our intention at some stage to rebuild the cab to look more authentic and also to rebuild the tender water tanks and coal
bunker.
The trust intends to set up a special railway for the K-92 to run. There are great things in the works, so keep an ear open for
words about K-92 in future.
The 3rd Rogers locomotve, K-94, has was recovered from the river in 1986, and two more remain in the river. There are no plans
at this time to restore K-94.
These photos are K-92 as she looks today in her shed and under steam in Kingston.
These photos show K-94 being recovered from the river in 1986, and the state of the unrestored Roger K-94 as seen in 2003.
Here are some detail pics of Rogers K-92 as I took them in 2003.
