Diesel Traction Group (NZ)

This article is about Diesel Traction Group, New Zealand. For Diesel Traction Group, United Kingdom, see Diesel Traction Group (UK).

The Diesel Traction Group (DTG) is the Christchurch-based operator of a fleet of ex-New Zealand Railways Department diesel-electric locomotives. The fleet represents a full collection of New Zealand locomotive classes built by the English Electric Company and is a historically significant collection of early New Zealand diesel traction. All of the DTG's locomotives are owned by individual members through the sale of shareholdings.

The DTG was formed in September 1983 to preserve one of the DG class locomotives that were being withdrawn from service at the time.^[1][2]. DG 772 (TMS No. 2255) was purchased from NZR and moved to Ferrymead on 17th October 1983 ^[3]. During 1984, the DTG investigated purchasing a second DG, this time one of the ten that were fitted with a new cab during their last major overhaul in the early 1980s, but the proposal did not proceed ^[4][5].

In 1988, DG 772 was upgraded to main line mechanical certification condition, repainted in its original colour scheme and used in the Ferrymead 125 celebrations, including a mainline excursion to Springfield ^[6]. Further mainline charters to Dunedin, Clyde and Arthurs Pass followed. Dg 772 is currently New Zealand's only network registered heritage diesel-electric locomotive.^{[citation needed]} Dg 772 returned from a bout of charter work in Dunedin and Otago in November 2009 and is undergoing routine servicing before more expected excursion work in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

The Group's second locomotive was TR 22, one of the early designs of the TR class which entered service in 1939 ^[7]. It was offered for sale by tender and was delivered to Ferrymead in July 1985 without an engine or transmission ^[8]. These vital items of equipment were purchased separately from NZR stores the following year and after installation into the locomotive, it was recommissioned into service a year after its arrival ^{[9] [10]}. TR 22 was then placed on lease to the Ferrymead Railway as a light shunter, and was later sold to the railway's operators.

In November 1987, the Group's members purchased two NZR DE class locomotives, No. 511 and 1429, from Dunedin where they had been recently withdrawn from shunting duties. They were delivered to Ferrymead with other rolling stock the same month ^[11]. DE 511 was repainted in the original colours^[12]and certified to mainline mechanical standard for participation in the Ferrymead 125 event the following year, which included shared operation of the Springfield excursion with DG 772 ^[13]. Thereafter No. 511 was used occasionally in service on the Ferrymead Railway. DE 1429 retained its latter-day TMS number and colours in preservation, and had its engine overhauled in 1989-1990 ^[14]. It is in regular use on a variety of duties at Ferrymead.

Di 1102 was purchased by the group in 1989 and is currently under overhaul in readiness for a return to national network service. ^[15]

Df 1501 was moved by the group from Auckland to its Christchurch base in January 2009. Overhaul is scheduled after the completion of Di 1102^{[citation needed]}

The DTG is based at Ferrymead Heritage Park. Locomotives are used on passenger trains and heavy shunting services on the Ferrymead Railway. Locomotives also venture out onto other heritage/tourist railways and charters on the national rail network. DTG is a member of the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand.

References

1. ^ Branch Lines (newsletter of the Canterbury Branch NZRLS), June 1983
2. ^ Branch Lines, September 1983
3. ^ Branch Lines, October 1983
4. ^ Branch Lines, March 1984
5. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.1
6. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.20
7. ^ NZR Locomotives and Railcars 1983
8. ^ Branch Lines, July 1985
9. ^ Branch Lines, August 1986
10. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.11
11. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.15
12. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.16
13. ^ Diesel Traction Group Newsletter, No.20
14. ^ Diesel Traction Group newsletter, No.21, 22, 23, 24
15. ^ DTG Website

See also

• Railway preservation in New Zealand

External links

• Diesel Traction Group