Rimutaka Incline Railway

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De class diesel-electric locomotives

De class diesel-electric locomotives were frequently used between Upper Hutt and Summit in the last three years of operation from 1952 to October 1955. The locomotives had a relatively heavy axle loading of 12.7 tons (13.0 tonnes), although not as heavy as the 13 ton axle load 'We' class tank locomotives of 1902 which were used on the route from 1902 to 1927.

The De class were sometimes used in pairs, requiring driver and locomotive assistant in each unit, the class not being fitted with multiple unit control.

Seven De class preserved

Of the once 15-strong De class seven have been preserved, in the care of preservation groups throughout the country, including two in the Wellington area.

Royal Trains of 1954

Four De class locomotives were selected to haul both the Royal and Pilot trains throughout much of the North Island during the Royal Tour of December 1953 - January 1954, being: 509, 510, 514 and 515. Of the four, only 509 survived into preservation, resident at Glenbrook Vintage Railway in South Auckland.

Notably, 514 and 515 hauled the Royal Train from Wellington to Summit on Friday 15th January 1954.

The four locomotives were carefully prepared for Royal Train service - including the fitting of backup brake couplings front and rear in order to reduce the length of stoppage should a brake hose fail in service, a feature that was retained by these locomotives until withdrawn from service in the mid-1980s. The rear cowcatchers were also removed, permitting double-header coupling without the use of stretcher bars or runner vehicles.

'Last' excursions

Many so-called 'last' excursions were run up until closure on 29 October 1955, hauled in some cases by twin De class diesel electrics.

On the last day of operation two excursions were run, being the Carterton Show Special and an actual 'last' train. De's 507, 514 hauled the former, 507 returning to Upper Hutt to join 515 in hauling the latter. Illustrations of these trains may be found in the June 2004 issue of the New Zealand Railfan magazine, on pages 44 and 45.

De 507 also survived into preservation at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.

De class

Manufacturer	English Electric
Wheel Arrangement	Bo-Bo
Number built	15
Road numbers	501-515
Year built	1952
Number preserved	7

[Note that reference to individual locomotives in these pages is either for illustrative purposes or a matter of historical fact (in the case of archival photographs), and should not be taken to necessarily imply association with the Rimutaka Incline Railway proposal.]

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