NZR DF class (1954)

New Zealand D^F class (English Electric)

English Electric D^F 1501 on display outside Sims-PMI in Otahuhu, Auckland. The locomotive has since moved to the Diesel Traction Group, Ferrymead Historic Park.

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	English Electric, United Kingdom
Build date	1954

Specifications
AAR wheel arr.	2-C+C-2
UIC class	(2'Co)(Co'2)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length	18.7 metres (61 ft 4 in)
Adhesive weight	73.4 tonnes (72.2 long tons; 80.9 short tons)
Loco weight	110 tonnes (110 long tons; 120 short tons)
Prime mover	English Electric 12SVT Mk 2
RPM range	750 - 850 rpm
Engine type	V12 Diesel engine
Aspiration	Turbocharger
Generator	English Electric 828A
Traction motors	Six English Electric 525 / 2A
Cylinders	12
Cylinder size	254 mm × 305 mm (10.0 in × 12.0 in)

Performance figures
Maximum speed	97 km/h (60 mph)
Power output	1,120 kW (1,500 hp)
Tractive effort	180 kN (40,000 lb_f)

Career
Number in class	10
Numbers	1500 - 1509 (1954 to 1965) 1300 - 1309 (1965 to 1975)
Locale	North Island
First run	1954
Last run	1975
Disposition	1 preserved, 9 scrapped

The New Zealand D^F class locomotive of 1954 was the first class of mainline diesel-electric locomotives built for New Zealand's national railway network, built by English Electric. It should not be confused with General Motors Electro-Motive Division DF class of 1979.

Introduction

They had a wheel arrangement of (2'Co)(Co'2) under the UIC classification system, generated 1120 kW (1500 hp) of power, and could achieve a maximum speed of 97 km/h. They started the process of displacing steam motive power from main lines in New Zealand, but were soon displaced themselves by the D^A class of 1955.

Initially, 31 D^F locomotives were ordered, but this order was amended to ten D^Fs and 42 D^G class locomotives,^[1] which in appearance was essentially half a D^F but with a similar Bulldog nose cab design. The D^F locomotives were lighter than the later and slightly less powerful D^As and were used to haul freight trains on the North Auckland and East Coast Main Trunk lines in Northland and the Bay of Plenty from which the D^As were prohibited by dint of the higher axle loading of the D^A class. The DF class were confined to the North Island, although they did all visit Dunedin for overhaul at Hillside Workshops. The locomotives did not run in service during their journeys to and from Hillside, instead being towed. They were allowed to move under their own power once there and haul transfer freight trains to and from Port Chalmers and Mosgiel as part of tests before returning to service.

On the arrival of the Phase III D^A's in 1964, the D^F class was renumbered from the 1500 series to the 1300 series in order to free up the 1500-series numbers for the new D^A's.

Withdrawal

The D^Fs were plagued by unreliability and often had to undergo repairs. This contributed to their short lifespan; withdrawal began in 1972 and the last, D^F 1301, was withdrawn in June 1975. A plan to shift the whole fleet to the South Island to join their smaller but more versatile D^G siblings was proposed. They were to operate on the hilly Dunedin to Oamaru section of the Main South Line but a new locomotive type was chosen in the D^J class.

Preserved locomotive

D^F 1301, the first locomotive built, was placed on static display at Sim Pacific Metals Limited in Auckland, replacing K 900. As part of this it was renumbered to its original number of 1501, but with V-shaped nose stripes in place of the original wing-shaped ones. Initially displayed in the open, a limited shelter was built over the locomotive at a later date although this did not halt the progressive deterioration of the locomotive.

In 2007, the locomotive was purchased by the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand who concluded an agreement with the Diesel Traction Group, of Christchurch, to have the locomotive moved to their premises for restoration. The first stage of this relocation took place in August 2008 when 1501 was re-railed and then towed to Westfield Diesel Depot for assessment. In January 2009, members of the Group accompanied the locomotive on a three-day, 1,100 km trip to Christchurch, from where it moved to their Ferrymead Railway base a few days later.

Class register

Key:	In service	On lease	Out of service	Preserved	Overhaul/Repair	Scrapped

Number^{[n 1]}	Introduced	Withdrawn	Notes
1500	000000001955-10-01-0000October 1955	000000001974-05-01-0000May 1974	Originally D^F 1510.
1501	000000001955-03-01-0000March 1955	000000001975-06-01-0000June 1975	Preserved by Diesel Traction Group.
1502	000000001955-07-01-0000July 1955	000000001972-08-01-0000August 1972
1503	000000001954-09-01-0000September 1954	000000001972-01-01-0000January 1972
1504	000000001954-10-01-0000October 1954	000000001972-08-01-0000August 1972
1505	000000001954-10-01-0000October 1954	000000001972-08-01-0000August 1972
1506	000000001954-11-01-0000November 1954	000000001974-05-01-0000May 1974
1507	000000001954-12-01-0000December 1954	000000001972-01-01-0000January 1972
1508	000000001954-12-01-0000December 1954	000000001972-01-01-0000January 1972
1509	000000001955-03-01-0000March 1955	000000001972-01-01-0000January 1972

↑ Class renumbered 1300 to 1309 in November 1965.

References and citations

Citations

↑ "The DG class". New Zealand Railfan. Triple M Productions. 5 (4).

References

"NZR Locomotives and Railcars 1973". T A McGavin. New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society : Wellington, New Zealand : 1973.
"New Zealand Railway Diesels". E J McClare. Southern Press : Wellington, New Zealand.

External links

Diesel Traction Group, Christchurch

Rail vehicles of New Zealand

Diesel locomotives

Diesel Multiple Units

Electric locomotives

1500 V DC	E^A (later EO of 1968) E^C E^D E^O of 1923 E^W

25 kV AC	EF

Battery	E E^B

Electric Multiple Units

1500 V DC (Wellington)	"English Electric" D^M (inc. D trailers) "Ganz Mavag" EM (inc. ET trailers) "Matangi" FP (inc. FT trailers)

25 kV AC (Auckland)	AM (inc. AMP, AMT, AMA)

Railcars

RM class	88 seater (also known as Fiats or twinsets) Clayton steam railcar Edison battery-electric railcar Midland railcar Leyland experimental petrol railcar MacEwan-Pratt petrol railcar Model T Ford railcar Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar Silver Fern Standard Thomas Transmission Vulcan Wairarapa Westinghouse

Others	A 88 Buckhurst petrol carriage

Steam locomotives

A of 1873
A of 1906 (inc. A^D)
A^A
A^B
B of 1874
B of 1899
B^A
B^B
B^C
C of 1873
C of 1930
D of 1874
D of 1929
E of 1872 & 1875
E of 1906
F
F^A (inc. F^B)
G of 1874
G Garratt of 1928 (inc. Pacific rebuild)
H
J of 1874
J of 1939
J^A
J^B
K of 1877
K of 1932
K^A
K^B
L
L^A
M
N
N^A
N^C
O
O^A
O^B
O^C
P of 1876
P of 1885
Q of 1878
Q of 1901
R
S
T
U
U^A
U^B
U^C
U^D
V
W
W^A
W^AB
W^B
W^D
W^E
W^F
W^G
W^H
W^J
W^S
W^W
X
Y

Locomotive hauled carriages

See also: Locomotives of New Zealand.

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