J. McGregor & Co., Dunedin
McGregors had a reputation for high quality engineering work and this is reflected in their innovative designs for bush tramway locomotives. Only three were built, which seems a pity but perhaps they were more intent on their other engineering endeavours.
1917 0-4-4-0
This locomotive was very similar
to the Climax A or Price C. It had a vertical twin-cylinder engine in the cab driving
to a line shaft then through gears to the truck axles. It saw service on various South Island
bush tramways, eventually being converted to a rail
tractor driven by a Fordson engine.
1927 0-4-0 V-engine.
Two locomotives of this type were built, the first in
1927, the other in 1929.
With an 0-4-0 wheel arrangment, a two-cylinder vee
engine was mounted centrally under the boiler similar to a Heisler. A 2-speed gear arrangement
drove onto the two axles and from there, via universal couplings, to adjacent log buggies fore and aft.
This had the effect of driving on 12 wheels.
The 1927 engine
(#2) was in service up until 1950 while the second of 1929 (#3) worked until about
1941 when it was converted to a rail tractor.
Survivors
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There are no known survivors of McGregor steam lokeys.
