NZR E Class No. 175 'Josephine'

"Josephine" is an 0-4-4-0T Double Fairlie steam locomotive currently preserved at the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is the last surviving member of the NZR E class (1872).
==Operational history==
In 1872, two locomotives were ordered by the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company ("D&PCR Co") to operate trains on the newly built Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway. Robert F. Fairlie, a consulting engineer at the time, persuaded the railway to order locomotives based off of his Double Fairlie design. 
The two locomotives were built by the Vulcan Foundry in England, and were then shipped to New Zealand in parts. No. 2 "Josephine" was assembled first on September 11, 1872 and was used to help finish the construction of the line while the other locomotive, No. 1 "Rose", was completed.
Both locomotives continued in service until the railway was amalgamated into the Government system, becoming class "E" and gaining Otago section numbers. They also gained a reputation of being unspectacular performers by crews.
"Rose" suffered an accident on September 20, 1878, and was dismantled at Hillside Railway Shops. 
"Josephine" continued in service with New Zealand Railways (NZR), being transferred to the Wanganui region in the North Island as "E24" in November 1883. She was given her final NZR number of "E175" during the general re-numbering of 1888-90 and lasted in NZR service until 1900.
She was sold to the Public Works Department, re-numbered PWD No. 504 and used in the construction of railway lines before they were handed over to the Railways Department. She was transferred to the North Island and utilized in the construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway before being returned to her former home for the construction of the Otago Central Railway.
In 1917 "Josephine", was declared surplus by the Public Works Department and was sold for scrap to the Otago Iron Rolling Mills at Burnside in Dunedin. 
==Preservation==
"Josephine" languished at the scrapyard for over eight years even serving as a temporary boiler for the company for a time. Supposedly it is believed that sentiment delayed her being cut up as no one had the heart to scrap the historic locomotive.
In 1925, the owners of the Otago Iron Rolling Mills, had the locomotive cosmetically restored and placed beside the World War One memorial locomotive ABclass 608 "Passchendaele" in the railways exhibit at the hugely popular New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition in Dunedin held from November 17, 1925 to May 1, 1926. 
After the Exhibition closed in 1926 "Josephine" was donated to The Otago Settlers Association. She was displayed in a railed off enclosure outside of the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum adjacent to the Dunedin Railway Station which caused the locomotive to deteriorate in the elements over time.
In the 1960s she was cosmetically restored once again and was safely placed inside the museum behind a large glass window. 
"Josephine" still resides at the museum to this day on static display with no current plans to restore her to operational condition.
==Trivia==
* It was the first locomotive to run on the Dunedin to Port Chalmers line.
* It is the first 3 ft 6in gauge locomotive to steam in New Zealand.
* It is believed that "Josephine" is the first example of railway preservation in New Zealand.
*It is the oldest preserved locomotive in New Zealand and the only surviving provincial government locomotive.
* It is one of only a handful of surviving Double Fairlies left in the world.
* In 2012 a children's picture book staring this engine titled "Josephine Off The Rails" was published.
==Gallery==
File:Josephine3.jpg|During a trial run in 1872.
File:Josephine5.jpg|"Josephine" in operation at Beaumont on the Roxburgh branch line.
File:PICT0002small.JPG|"Josephine" on display outside of the museum in August 1959.
File:Joshephinesmall.jpg|"Josephine" today now placed inside the museum. 
File:20160331 124045a.jpg|The locomotives Builder's Plate.
File:NZR E class (1872) Josephine Otago Settlers Museum.jpg|"Josephine" in 2016. 
Category:Vulcan Foundry locomotives
Category:Double Fairlie locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Articulated locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:New Zealand locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:NZR locomotives
Category:Built in 1872
Category:0-4-4-0 locomotives
Category:0-4-4-0T steam locomotives
Category:0-4-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:0-4-4-0T locomotives
Category:Tank locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Pusher engines