E.W.Mills of the Lion Foundry in Wellington built the Mills “A”, in 1875. When it entered service it was given the name “Opossum”. This has stuck ever since. The Opossum was one of three locomotives built by the A.W.Mills Foundry in 1875 for the Public Works Department. It wasn’t required for this work and wasn’t used until 1878 when it was transfer to Greymouth for use on Harbour Works. Until this time it had been in storage in Wellington.

The Mills “A” was a copy of the 1873 built Dubs & Co “A” model. The Mills design differed by way of using outside Stephenson’s Link motion as opposed to internal as the Dubs built A had.


1885 the Opossum was handed over to the Hungerford & McKay who were awarded the contract to build the South Breakwater of the Greymouth Harbour. An extract from the engineers report read as follows: “The locomotive has a bent axel and it requires new tubes. Also the locomotive has been terribly knocked about having been used as a battering ram!”


1905 the Opossum was hired out to the Public Works Department for use on the construction of the Inangahua Junction to Reefton section of the Midland Line.


1907 the Opossum was returned to the Harbour board after being used by the Public Works Department.


1909 the Opossum was again hired out to the Public Works Department. This time it was used for construction on the Ngahere to Blackball Line, within a few weeks the locomotive was returned to the Harbour Board. The reason for this was the steep grade of 1:40 on this line.


1910 it was decided to put the Opossum up for tender. The successful tenderer was Duncan McLean of Greymouth, possibly for use by John McLean who were building the Otira tunnel.


1911, January 13. The Opossum was delivered to the second successful bidder, Mr W.Ogilvie, as the deal with Duncan McLean had fallen through. Mr Ogilvie was opening up a new mill on the site on one that had previously burned down at Gladstone. He required the locomotive to work on the old line for hauling timber. The tender Mr Ogilvie placed was for £85 with Duncan & McLean tender being for £101.

During this time it received additional water tanks, as well as this the coalbunker capacity was extended. These alterations were carried out at the Ogilvies workshops at Gladstone.


1957 Mr. Ogilvie presented the Opossum to the then Greymouth Bough council for preservation on Petrie Avenue. It had been sitting in the Ogilvies yard for 5 years gathering weeds and rusting. Railway Enthusiasts from other parts of New Zealand were looking at acquiring the Opossum for preservation.


1958 The Greymouth junior Chamber of Commerce agreed on a suitable site for the Opossum to sit in Greymouth. It is then transported by train from Ogilvies Gladstone siding to the Greymouth Locomotive depot. This is where it was tidied so it could be placed in Petrie Ave for the children of Greymouth to play on.


1986 The Opossum was deemed unsafe by the Council, due to rusting. The Council were planning to cut the Opossum up. As fate would have it Shantytown was approached regarding a place for the Opossum to live. It was duly transported to Shantytown, where it sits next to the engine shed awaiting restoration. It is now part of the Shantytown Railways collection of Industrial locomotives.

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