At the official opening of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway, "Rose" hauled the first official train. Both locomotives continued in service until the railway was amalgamated into the Government system, becoming class "E" and gaining Otago section numbers. In 1879, "Josephine" was used as a banking locomotive south of Oamaru on the first train on the newly completed Main South Line between Dunedin and Christchurch, hauled by K 88 "Washington". There was much discussion over whether "Josephine" or the new American locomotive should lead – K 88 kept its position as lead loco. "Josephine" had to be removed from the train at Palmerston, as the driver had forced her to take too much of the load and as a consequence she developed mechanical problems.