NZR DI class
Encyclopedia
The DI class locomotive was a class of diesel-electric locomotive
in New Zealand
. They were built by English Electric
Australia
. The class is very similar to the Queensland Rail
1620 Class. At the time of their introduction, the class was seen as an alternative to the DB class
for use on lightly laid secondary and branch lines, however the introduction of the DJ class
in 1968 ensured that no further DI class locomotives were purchased by the Railways Department.
Three members of the class originally operated in the South Island
, mainly on the Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton, while the other two members started life in the North Island
. In 1969, all members were transferred to work in the Bay of Plenty area on the lightly laid track there. After the Kaimai Tunnel opened in 1978, all five members were transferred to the South Island for service in the Dunedin area. The remained there until 1984 - 1985, when they went north to Wellington and Napier. In their latter days the DI class was used mainly for shunting duties.
In 1988, three members of the class were written off following accidents. The remaining two locomotives were withdrawn by 1989, following the conversion of the DSC class
shunting locomotives to right-hand control.
One member of the class, Di 1102 (1820) has been preserved by the Diesel Traction Group at Ferrymead
.
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. They were built by English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The class is very similar to the Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
1620 Class. At the time of their introduction, the class was seen as an alternative to the DB class
NZR DB class
The NZR Db diesel-electric locomotive class was built in 1965-1966. They were a lighter version of the Da class to operate on secondary North Island lines from which the Da was excluded due to its weight. One of the principal lines which the Db dominated was the East Coast Main Trunk to Tauranga...
for use on lightly laid secondary and branch lines, however the introduction of the DJ class
NZR DJ class
The NZR DJ class locomotive is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in New Zealand. The class were purchased from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with a modernisation loan from the World Bank to replace steam locomotives in the South Island, where most of the class members worked most of their...
in 1968 ensured that no further DI class locomotives were purchased by the Railways Department.
Three members of the class originally operated in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, mainly on the Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton, while the other two members started life in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. In 1969, all members were transferred to work in the Bay of Plenty area on the lightly laid track there. After the Kaimai Tunnel opened in 1978, all five members were transferred to the South Island for service in the Dunedin area. The remained there until 1984 - 1985, when they went north to Wellington and Napier. In their latter days the DI class was used mainly for shunting duties.
In 1988, three members of the class were written off following accidents. The remaining two locomotives were withdrawn by 1989, following the conversion of the DSC class
NZR DSC class
The NZR DSC class is a heavy shunting locomotive used throughout New Zealand. The class was built in seven batches, the first 18 locomotives being built by British Thomson-Houston of the United Kingdom, with the remainder being built by New Zealand Railways....
shunting locomotives to right-hand control.
One member of the class, Di 1102 (1820) has been preserved by the Diesel Traction Group at Ferrymead
Ferrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
.
Class register
| TMS number | Original number | Introduced | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1808 | 1100 | Written off in 1988 after flashover Flashover A flashover is the near simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area. When certain organic materials are heated they undergo thermal decomposition and release flammable gases... in main generator. Dismantled at Hutt Workshops in 1991. |
||
| 1814 | 1101 | |||
| 1820 | 1102 | Preserved by Diesel Traction Group in Christchurch. Currently under overhaul. | ||
| 1837 | 1103 | Written off and scrapped in 1988 after throwing a conrod. | ||
| 1843 | 1104 | Written off and scrapped in 1988 after being damaged in a level crossing Level crossing A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion... accident near Otaki Otaki, New Zealand Otaki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District of the North Island of New Zealand, situated half way between the capital city Wellington, 70 kilometres to the southwest, and Palmerston North, 70 kilometres to the northeast. It marks the northernmost point of the Wellington Region. The town's... . |