At 5 tons, 1411 is the smallest 3 ft 6 inches gauge steam locomotive still operating in New Zealand. Built in 1904 by Orenstein and Koppel, it was originally designed for a 1 ft 11½ inch gauge track.
No.1411 is one of four locomotives of this type imported to New Zealand for coal mining companies. Named Bertha by its owners, it is a baby as steam locomotives go, but was still able to haul over 80 tons on a level track.
The little locomotive's career began with the Northern Coal Company railway, located north of Whangarei. In 1913, Bertha transferred to a quarry on Limestone Island operated by the New Zealand Cement Company (NZCC). Just five years later in 1918, the company restructured and NZCC become Wilson's Portland Cement Company, within a few months Bertha moved to Portland.
During the shift, Bertha was re-gauged to the New Zealand standard of 3 ft 6 inches. Bertha worked for a number of years on Wilson's large industrial railway, mostly on the wharf run, which was suitable for the locomotive's small size and light axle loading.
In later years, it became derelict and in 1957, was donated to the Old Time Transport Preservation League, who later gave it to MOTAT. Bertha can often be seen running at MOTAT's Meola Road site on the third Sunday of the month.
Specifications
| Type | Well tank steam locomotive |
| Engine Type | Steam |
| Wheel arrangement | 0-4-0 |
| Manufacturer | Orenstein & Koppel |
| Country manufactured | Germany |
| Date | 1904 |
| Service Period | 1900-1945 |
| Tractive Effort | 635 kg (1400 lbs) |
| Max speed | 15 kph (9.5 miles per hour) |
| Gross load | 90 tonnes |
