New Zealand DSC class locomotive

New Zealand DSC class
DSC 2693 with a shunt north of Ashburton.
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder British Thomson-Houston (18),
NZR Hillside Workshops and Addington Workshops (52)
Build date 1959–1967
Specifications
Configuration:
 ​
 • UIC Bo-Bo
Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length 11.66 m (38 ft 3 in)
Width 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Loco weight 41.1 tonnes (40.5 long tons; 45.3 short tons)
Prime mover BTH: Rolls-Royce C6SFL, 2 off;
later: Rolls-Royce C6TFL, 2 off.
NZR: Leyland UE902, 2 off;
later: Cummins NT855, 2 off.
Performance figures
Maximum speed 64 km/h (40 mph)
Power output 315 kW (422 hp)
Tractive effort 46 kN (10,300 lbf)
Career
Operators New Zealand Railways, Tranz Rail, Toll Rail, KiwiRail
Number in class 70
Numbers Early numbers: 400–469
TMS numbers: 2000–2759
Locale All of New Zealand
First run March 1958
Retired February 1989 – present
Disposition 28 in service
2 withdrawn
34 scrapped
3 preserved
3 are owned by industrial users

The New Zealand 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.

The class is widely used in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, mainly for heavy yard shunting, although some members of the class have been used for local mainline shunting services. All members of the class are now fitted with shunters refuges, and most are fitted with remote control capabilities.

Design and entry into service

In the late 1950s, NZR needed a suitable heavy shunting locomotive that produced more power than the existing DS and DSA class locomotives and would be suitable for replacing the BB, C, and WF class steam locomotives. In 1959, an order was placed with British Thompson-Houston in association with the Clayton Equipment Company for eighteen centre-cab shunting engines with a horsepower output of around 420 hp.

The new locomotives, allocated road numbers DSC 400-417, entered service in 1959-60 and were allocated to Auckland and Frankton Junction (Hamilton). For a time in 1962, DSC 402 was dispatched to Picton to shunt the NZR road/rail ferry MV Aramoana until newly constructed Addington DSC 418 arrived to take over, allowing 402 to return north.

The BTH locomotives were powered by two 6-cylinder inline 210 hp Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines connected to BTH generators, which were in turn coupled to four BTH traction motors, one to each axle. They were not entirely troublefree though, with issues arising with the airbrakes and spare parts for the diesel engines among others. However, once this was resolved, the class settled down to work reliably in their intended role.

Two further orders were placed with the NZR Addington and Hillside Workshops in the 1960s, with production running from 1962 to 1967. The NZR-built locomotives were different in that they were powered by two Leyland UE902 diesel engines producing 210 hp, and had electrical equipment built by Associated Electrical Industries Ltd (AEI), which had purchased BTH earlier. Again there were various troubles, this time more to do with the mechanical components and compatibility on later batches.

Re-engining

In the late 1970s, NZ Rail decided to undertake a re-engining programme for the DSC class. Due to design differences, it would not be possible to use the same type of diesel engine across all locomotives, and so two different types were selected:

  • All BTH locomotives would be repowered with the Rolls-Royce C6TFL diesel engine.
  • All NZR locomotives would be repowered with the Cummins NT855 diesel engine.

The process was spread out from the late 1970s into the early 1980s. As part of this, some locomotives were repainted in the International Orange livery but with their pre-TMS numbers instead of the later TMS numbers. As a result of this, the locomotives were equipped with new radiator header tanks which were mounted behind the radiator on top of the engine hoods in a 'north-south' alignment. Later the tanks were relocated to an 'east-west' alignment.

Fitting shunter's refuges

In 1989, DSC 2406 was trialled as the first shunting locomotive to be fitted with shunter's refuges at either end of the locomotive. New recessed steps were fitted at either end of the locomotive frames with a vertical hand-rail on the running-board proper. The locomotive's engine hoods were not shortened at the time.

This modification was successful, but it was noted that the engine hoods were a potential constraint. All further DSC class locomotives equipped with the refuges had their engine hoods shortened by 500mm, necessitating the relocation of the radiator header tanks to their present 'east-west' alignment.

This modification was subsequently made to all DSG, DSJ, and DH class locomotives as well as DAR 517. None of the BTH-built DSC class locomotives were fitted with these refuges and several NZR-built examples did not receive them either, due to withdrawal before they could be fitted or by dint of being used for other purposes.

Disposal

As of September 2018, 42 units have been withdrawn from service.

BTH-builds

As a part of the program of the New Zealand Railways Corporation to rationalize the locomotive fleet in the late 1980s, all of the British Thomson-Houston built locomotives were withdrawn. All, besides one, were scrapped either at Otahuhu Workshops, or at Hutt Workshops between October 1989 and early 1990.[1]

DSC 2067 was given a reprieve when it was sold to the NZ Dairy Group (later subsumed into Fonterra) to shunt their Whareroa milk factory. In 2003, the loco was overhauled at the Westfield servicing facility. The overhaul included repairs and a repaint.[2] In 2007, the locomotive was sold to Alliance Group Limited to shunt at their Pukeuri freezing works on the outskirts of Oamaru. In the late 2000s/early 2010s, it was repainted into the Alliance Groups yellow livery, and its two Rolls-Royce engines were replaced with two Cummins engines.

NZR-builds

With the rationalization of the locomotive fleet in the late 1980s, three NZR builds were withdrawn in 1989. Between 1989 and 1990, two units were laid up after being damaged due to accidents. Between 1998 and 2013, at least 20 units were laid up due to being either, surplus to requirements, due to accident damage or catching fire. Eleven of them were scrapped, the rest where either returned to service or sold. The frame of DSC 2231 was used as a test-bed for overhauled Cummins engines after being withdrawn. In September 2015, DSC 2338 was also laid up and sent to Hutt Workshops for storage.

The first unit to be preserved, DSC 2759, was purchased by Ian Welch in August 2002. The loco was moved to Mainline Steams Plimmerton depot.[3] The loco was repainted in Mainline Steams variation of the Tranz Rail Blue livery.[4] It has been named as "Show Pony". The second unit to be preserved, DSC 2584, was purchased by the Waitara Railway Preservation Society in January 2003.[3] In 2011, the locomotive was repainted in their own livery, of dark blue and light yellow.

Two units were also sold, but this time to industrial users. DSC 2421 was sold to Alliance Group for their freezing works in Lorneville in July 2002.[3] The loco was given a mechanical tidy-up at Hutt Workshops,and was repainted in the companys livery with a grey cab, yellow hoods and thin red chevron stripes on the ends, and is still in service.[5] The other unit, DSC 2257, was sold sometime in 2007 to Ravensdown Fertilizer for their New Plymouth plant. The locomotive had been on loan to the company for a time before being sold. It was placed into storage due to operational reasons, and had been cheaper to hire one from KiwiRail. In 2016, the locomotive was sold to the Waitara Railway Preservation Society.[3]

In August 2016, KiwiRail issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) via the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) for DSCs 2285, 2338, 2434 and 2680.[6][7] Following the sale of the four DSCs, 2285, 2434 and 2680 were scrapped in March 2017,[8] and 2338 was sold to DBM Contracting.[3][9] In November 2017, 2366 was withdrawn and sent to Hutt Workshops, with 2543 following in February 2018. The latter is now officially written off.[10]

In August 2017, KiwiRail announced they were in discussions with global suppliers including General Electric, Electro-Motive Diesel, Alstom, CRRC and Stadler Rail to construct replacements for the remainder of the class. It is expected the first of the replacements to arrive in 2020/21.[11]

Class register

Key: In service On lease Out of service Preserved Overhaul or repair Scrapped
Original Number TMS Number Builder Introduced Withdrawn Current Livery Status Allocated Notes
400 2000 British Thomson-Houston March 1959 October 1989 Scrapped
401 2013 British Thomson-Houston June 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
402 2026 British Thomson-Houston June 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
403 2039 British Thomson-Houston June 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
404 2041 British Thomson-Houston August 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
405 2054 British Thomson-Houston July 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
406 2067 British Thomson-Houston July 1959 September 1989 Alliance Yellow Industrial use Used by Alliance at their freezing works in Pukeuri.[3]
407 2082 British Thomson-Houston July 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
408 2095 British Thomson-Houston August 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
409 2107 British Thomson-Houston August 1959 October 1989 Scrapped
410 2122 British Thomson-Houston November 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
411 2135 British Thomson-Houston September 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
412 2148 British Thomson-Houston September 1959 October 1989 Scrapped
413 2150 British Thomson-Houston September 1959 February 1989 Scrapped
414 2163 British Thomson-Houston October 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
415 2176 British Thomson-Houston October 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
416 2189 British Thomson-Houston October 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
417 2191 British Thomson-Houston November 1959 September 1989 Scrapped
418 2203 NZR Addington Workshops October 1962 Tranz Rail Blue In service North Island
419 2216 NZR Addington Workshops December 1962 September 2005 Scrapped
420 2229 NZR Addington Workshops March 1963 Tranz Rail Blue In service North Island
421 2231 NZR Addington Workshops April 1963 February 1989[12] Scrapped Formerly used as static engine test bed at Hutt Workshops, until the mid to late 2000s.
422 2244 NZR Addington Workshops May 1963 KiwiRail In service North Island
423 2257 NZR Addington Workshops July 1963 2007 Tranz Rail Blue Preserved Preserved, Waitara Railway Preservation Society.[3]
424 2272 NZR Addington Workshops August 1963 May 1989 Scrapped
425 2285 NZR Addington Workshops September 1963 January 2007 Scrapped
426 2298 NZR Addington Workshops November 1963 August 2004[13] Scrapped
427 2312 NZR Addington Workshops November 1963 KiwiRail In service South Island
428 2325 NZR Hillside Workshops November 1962 Tranz Rail Blue In service South Island
429 2338 NZR Hillside Workshops February 1963 September 2015 Tranz Rail Blue Industrial use Owned by DBM Contracting.[3][9]
430 2340 NZR Hillside Workshops March 1963 KiwiRail In service North Island
431 2353 NZR Hillside Workshops May 1963 Tranz Rail Blue In service South Island
432 2366 NZR Hillside Workshops June 1963 November 2017 Tranz Rail Blue Withdrawn Stored at Hutt Workshops.
433 2379 NZR Hillside Workshops July 1963 KiwiRail In service North Island
434 2381 NZR Hillside Workshops September 1963 March 2004 Scrapped
435 2394 NZR Hillside Workshops October 1963 September 1998 Scrapped
436 2406 NZR Hillside Workshops January 1964 Tranz Rail Blue In service South Island
437 2419 NZR Hillside Workshops March 1964 KiwiRail In service North Island Used for training purposes at Hutt Workshops.
438 2421 NZR Addington Workshops November 1964 July 2002 Alliance Yellow Industrial use Used by Alliance at their freezing works in Lorneville.[3]
439 2434 NZR Addington Workshops December 1964 January 2007 Scrapped
440 2447 NZR Addington Workshops February 1965 KiwiRail In service South Island
441 2462 NZR Addington Workshops March 1965 Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" In service South Island
442 2475 NZR Addington Workshops May 1965 April 2007 Scrapped
443 2488 NZR Addington Workshops August 1965 May 1989 Scrapped
444 2490 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1964 KiwiRail In service North Island
445 2502 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1964 Tranz Rail Blue In service South Island
446 2515 NZR Hillside Workshops March 1965 KiwiRail In service North Island
447 2528 NZR Hillside Workshops March 1965 June 2004 Scrapped
448 2530 NZR Hillside Workshops June 1965 Tranz Rail Blue In service North Island
449 2543 NZR Hillside Workshops August 1965 February 2018 Tranz Rail Blue Withdrawn Stored at Hutt Workshops. Now written off.[10]
450 2556 NZR Addington Workshops September 1966 KiwiRail In service North Island
451 2569 NZR Addington Workshops October 1966 KiwiRail In service North Island
452 2571 NZR Addington Workshops December 1966 August 1990 Scrapped
453 2584 NZR Addington Workshops December 1966 January 2003 WRPS Blue Preserved Preserved, Waitara Railway Preservation Society.[3]
454 2597 NZR Addington Workshops March 1967 KiwiRail In service North Island
455 2609 NZR Addington Workshops April 1967 February 2001 Scrapped
456 2611 NZR Addington Workshops May 1967 February 1989 Scrapped
457 2624 NZR Addington Workshops June 1967 KiwiRail In service North Island
458 2637 NZR Addington Workshops August 1967 August 1990 Scrapped
459 2652 NZR Addington Workshops August 1967 Tranz Rail Blue In service South Island
460 2665 NZR Hillside Workshops September 1966 KiwiRail In service North Island
461 2678 NZR Hillside Workshops October 1966 Tranz Rail Black In service North Island
462 2680 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1966 January 2007 Scrapped
463 2693 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1966 KiwiRail In service South Island
464 2705 NZR Hillside Workshops May 1967 KiwiRail In service North Island Used as Hutt Workshops shunter.
465 2718 NZR Hillside Workshops July 1967 KiwiRail In service South Island
466 2720 NZR Hillside Workshops September 1967 Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" In service North Island
467 2733 NZR Hillside Workshops September 1967 June 2004 Scrapped
468 2746 NZR Hillside Workshops November 1967 KiwiRail In service North Island
469 2759 NZR Hillside Workshops December 1967 August 2002 Mainline Steam Blue Preserved Preserved, Mainline Steam.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Railfan". 11 (1). Triple M Publications. December 2004. ISSN 1173-2229.
  2. ↑ "Railfan". 11 (1). Triple M Publications. December 2004. ISSN 1173-2229.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Diesel Locomotives". New Zealand Rolling Stock Register. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Railfan". 12 (1). Triple M Publications. December 2005. ISSN 1173-2229.
  5. ↑ "Railfan". 8 (4). Triple M Publications. September 2002. ISSN 1173-2229.
  6. ↑ "KiwiRail DSC Locomotive Disposal RFQ". 23 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "DSC Shunt Locomotive x 3 Disposal RFQ". 25 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  8. ↑ "Railfan". 23 (2). Triple M Publications. March 2017. ISSN 1173-2229.
  9. 1 2 "Railfan". 24 (3). Triple M Publications. June 2018. ISSN 1173-2229.
  10. 1 2 "Written off/retired locos (Official Information Act request)". fyi.org.nz. KiwiRail. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Railfan". 23 (4). Triple M Publications. September 2017. ISSN 1173-2229.
  12. ↑ "Railfan". 11 (2). Triple M Publications. March 2005. ISSN 1173-2229.
  13. ↑ "Railfan". 11 (2). Triple M Publications. March 2005. ISSN 1173-2229.
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