“Ada” and “Snake.”

On the North Island lines some names can be traced from photographs. The engine (class F) of the first train between Auckland and Onehunga was named “Ada,” after Mrs. Henderson, wife of the local representative of the contractors (Brogden and Sons). In Auckland there were also a Double Fairlie named “Snake,” and five other Class F engines, named “Ivanhoe,” “Marmion,” “Jeanie Deans,” “Lord of the Isles,” “Lady of the Lake.” On the Kaipara-Riverhead line there was a Class D engine named “Schnapper,” and on the Wellington section a class D engine named “Eel,” and a class C engine named “Belmont.” There were also two small locomotives built by E. W. Mills & Co. These were named “Wallaby” and “Opossum.” The “Wallaby” was sent to Wanganui where it was sold by the Railway Department to the Manawatu County Council for use on the Sandon page 48 -Carnarvon tramway, and, it is understood, ended its days supplying power for working a flaxmill.

No doubt some of the older readers of the Magazine can further supplement the information herein set forth on engine names in New Zealand, and thus add to our knowledge of a very interesting subject.