Dg class diesel-electric locomotives
Dg 791 and 770, two of three Dg class at Weka Pass Railway, North Canterbury, New Zealand. Photo: Hugh McCracken.
English Electric supplied a total of 42 Dg class diesel-electric locomotives to New Zealand Railways during 1955 and 1956. The locomotives were of modest power output (750 horsepower or 560kW) in comparison to other mainline diesel-electric locomotives purchased by the NZR.
Class leader Dg 750 commenced service in September 1955, with 751 and 752 following in October1. These three units were used between Upper Hutt and Summit in the last month of operation - October 1955 commencing with a goods train on 11 October 19552, and in passenger service shortly afterwards on 15 October. As fate would have it, the Dg class were not used on the last day (29 October 1955), the these trains were hauled by De class locomotives.
The Dg class had but a brief association with the old route, but went on to become the main motive power on the Wairarapa line following the opening of the Rimutaka Deviation.
Two Dg class locomotives haul an excursion train around a curve on the 1 in 35 climb out of Upper Hutt. Photo: Nelson Stockbridge.
'Last' excursions
Many so-called 'last' excursions were run in September and October 1955, modern Dg class diesel electrics providing a stark contrast with the aged Fell locomotives used to haul the trains over the Fell incline section.
Four Dg class preserved
Of the once 42-strong Dg class but four have been preserved, in the care of South Island preservation groups Weka Pass Railway Incorporated and the Diesel Traction Group. Three of the four are in working order, as illustrated by Weka Pass Railway owned 791 and 770.
| Specification | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Total weight | 69.0 tons | 70.1 tonnes |
| Adhesive weight | 45.7 tons | 46.4 tonnes |
| Length, over headstocks | 45'0" | 13.72m |
| Total wheelbase | 37'0" | 11.28m |
| Rigid wheelbase | 11'6" | 3.51m |
| Maximum height | 11'6" | 3.51m |
| Maximum width | 8'6" | 2.59m |
| Driving wheel diameter | 37" | 0.940m |
| Gross engine output | 750 h.p. | 560kW |
| Manufacturer | English Electric |
|---|---|
| Wheel Arrangement | A1A-A1A |
| Number built | 42 |
| Road numbers | 750-791 |
| Year built | 1955 |
| Number preserved | 4 |
[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.]
References:
1 New Zealand Railway Observer 1997, Vol 54/2, p49.
2 NZR photographs B-6436, B-6475 show the train at Tunnel Gully and waiting in the loop at Kaitoke.
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Page updated 30 May 2005 Hugh McCracken.
