North American Iron: End of the Line Dunedin Central, South Island, New Zealand
By U.N.C.L.E. on 18-Jul-22. Waypoint GA26922

WARNING: TRAINSPOTTER ALERT!

In October 2021 Kiwirail announced that it had placed an order with Stadler Rail of Switzerland for 57 new diesel-electric locomotives to replace the existing South Island mainline loco fleet. The locos will be built in Spain and should begin to enter service from early 2024.

The new locos (Kiwirail class name not yet known but rumoured to be DM) are double-cabbed (a cab at each end to eliminate the need to turn locomotives around) and of Co-Co axle configuration (two three-axle bogies with all six axles being driven). Powered by a Caterpillar C-175 V16 diesel of 84.7 litres, the new locos will be more powerful and considerably more economical and cleaner running than the units they will replace. 

While the arrival of these new locomotives is exciting for local rail enthusiasts, it will also be tinged with sadness as it means the end of the line for the three classes of North American locos that have been the mainstay of South Island train operations for several decades.

These are the DX, DC and DF classes (and the sub-classes of each of these).

The DX was built by General Electric Transportation in the USA and introduced into service in NZ between 1972-76. At the time, they were the most powerful locos to have ever run in NZ. 49 were built.  Subclasses have been the DXB, DXC and DXR.

The DF was built by General Motors Diesel in Canada between 1979-1981. Between 1992-97 they were all repowered with upgraded and more powerful engines and were reclassified as DFTs. From 2006 several DFTs were fitted with a traction control system called Brightstar and were re-designated DFBs.

The DC class locos all began life as DA class units. 146 DA locos were supplied to NZ Railways between 1955 – 1967. They were all to a GM-ElectroMotive Division (GM-EMD) design and were built variously by General Motors Diesel in Canada, GM-EMD in the USA and Clyde Engineering in Australia. 85 of the DA locos, chosen from amongst the youngest of those delivered, were subsequently rebuilt between 1978 -1983 and reclassified as DC class locomotives. The rebuilds included a new cab (that resembled the DX and DF classes) and an engine replacement. Two subclasses of DC exist: the DCP and the DC Micro.

These GE and GM-EMD locomotives have given sterling service to New Zealand for, in some cases, almost 60 years. In recent years, and with many decades of hard work behind them, they have continued to provide levels of availability (i.e. available for work and not out of service for repair) that exceeded the near-new Chinese-built Dalian DL class locos in the North Island.

The classic North American look and sound have enthralled NZ rail enthusiasts for quite some time. Standing at Otira or Arthur's Pass stations and witnessing the sight and sound of five DXCs operating in multiple to haul a coal train through the Otira tunnel with its 1 in 33 west-east gradient will literally send a shiver down your spine. They will be missed.

It is not yet clear how the North American Iron will be withdrawn as the Stadlers arrive. Some DF and DX locos have had recent overhauls and will be able to be operated for a few years yet. These may be relocated to the North Island to cover ongoing loco shortages there due to the poor reliability of the Dalian DLs. Older DFs and DXs, with components nearing the end of their life, will probably be written off and scrapped with recovered parts used to keep others running. The DC class has been on death row for some time and scrapping is almost certain.

The cache is placed at a location from which you can usually view Kiwirail locomotives sitting in the Dunedin yard. It is not on railway land. The cache is accessed from the public footpath. There is no need to cross the fence.

SPECIAL (OPTIONAL) REQUEST: When you find the cache could you please check what locos are in the yard. If there any DC, DF or DX locos, could you please take a photograph of them and upload to your log. This will build up a collection of photos of these wonderful locomotives in their final days.

How do you know a DC from a DF from a DX? Well, the loco class is stated on the side of the loco. Also, all DCs are numbered in the 4000 series, DFs in the 7000 series and DXs in the 5000 series. All locos have their numbers prominently displayed.

BYOP. No parking is available at GZ.

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