when there were coal shortages

When NZR ordered its last mainline locomotive series from North British in the 1950s, the JA class Mark II, the coal shortages of the time caused them to be all built as oil burners.  Other differences with the Mark I (Hillside, Dunedin) JAs were the use of Stone’s headlights and electrical generator instead of Pyle National equipment, the “butterfly” number boards on the front headlight, and the lack of smokebox number plate.  This pic by the late Jack McClare shows one leaving Auckland in 1963 with the 7:15 pm Night Limited to Wellington.

The move away from coal as a fuel in the decades since then means that the bulk of what is produced on the West Coast of the South Island needs to be exported to be sold at all.  But export coal prices aren't enough and yesterday Solid Energy announced it was closing its Spring Creek mine near Greymouth, with the loss of 220 jobs.