- NZR DA class
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NZR Da class 
Da 1400 on static display at MOTAT Power type Diesel-electric Builder General Motors Diesel (Canada)
Electro-Motive Division (USA)
Clyde Engineering (Australia)Model EMD G12 Build date 1955 - 1967 UIC classification A1A-A1A Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge Length GMD/EMD 14.1 metres (46 ft 3 in)
Clyde 14.6 metres (47 ft 11 in)Weight on drivers 59.0 tonnes (58.1 long tons; 65.0 short tons) Locomotive weight GMD/EMD 81.0 tonnes (79.7 long tons; 89.3 short tons)
Clyde 79.0 tonnes (77.8 long tons)Fuel type Diesel Prime mover EMD 12-567C and EMD 12-567E Engine RPM range 835 rpm Aspiration Roots type supercharger Displacement 111.49 L (6,804 cu in) Traction motors Four EMD D19 or D29 Cylinders V12 Cylinder size 216 × 254 mm (8.5 × 10.0 in) Top speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output 1,060 kW (1,420 hp) Tractive effort 140 kN (31,000 lbf) Number in class 146 Number Da 1400–1545 (Original)
DA11–996 (TMS)First run 1955 - 1967 Last run 1977 - 1989 Current owner Steam Incorporated, Mainline Steam, Private Disposition 85 rebuilt as DC Class
6 as Daa (defunct), 1 as DAR 517 (withdrawn); 0 in serviceThe NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive.
The class were A1A-A1A versions of the Electro-Motive Diesel G12 model, altered slightly to fit New Zealand's 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge rail system, and New Zealand's small loading gauge. They were introduced between 1955 and 1967, and were the first class of diesel locomotives to seriously displace steam traction.
Between 1978 and 1983, 85 were rebuilt as the DC class, of which many are still in use. All but one of the remainder were withdrawn by 1989, with six preserved. The last locomotive was refitted for shunting duties, becoming DAR 517.
Contents
Operation
The Da class was built to operate main-line passenger and freight trains, and some services on secondary lines. They had a wheel arrangement of A1A-A1A under the UIC classification system, generated 1425 hp (1060 kW), and ran at up to 100 km/h. Although they were not the first class of main-line diesel locomotives to operate in New Zealand (this was the DF of 1954), they were the first class to displace the steam locomotives that dominated NZR until the 1950s. They were well suited to hauling freight and passenger trains, and operated the "Scenic Daylight" service between Auckland and Wellington. When they arrived in New Zealand the tunnels south of Paekakariki on the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) were not large enough for them and they could not operate into Wellington via the NIMT until these tunnels were enlarged in 1967.
Toll Rail DAR517. Photo: Andrew Hamblyn.
Rebuilds and withdrawal
In 1970, six Da class were converted to shunt the Te Rapa yards and reclassified Daa. Between 1977 and 1983 85 DAs were rebuilt as the new DC class, most by Clyde Engineering of Australia and five by NZR at the Hutt Workshops. Of the locomotives not converted, the last was withdrawn in 1989 and six were preserved, while a seventh, Da 1448, was sold to Tasman Pulp and Paper. The Tasman locomotive was bought back by Tranz Rail (the successor to NZR) in 1998 and reclassified DAR, as the front hood had been rebuilt (to provide better visibility), and renumbered 517.
Preservation
Six DA locomotives have been preserved. The class leader, Da 1400, is on static display at MOTAT in Auckland, while Da 1410 and 1431 have been preserved by Steam Incorporated in Wellington. 1410 is currently on lease to the Railway Enthusiasts Society, 1401 is preserved by the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society, and 1429 is preserved by a private individual in Auckland. 1471, formerly preserved by Steam Incorporated, is now stored by KiwiRail at Hutt Workshops near Wellington. From time to time, Tranz Rail and its successors Toll Rail and KiwiRail have leased these locomotives to complement their own fleets due to maintenance requirements or periods of high freight volumes.
Class register
Key: In service Out of service Auckland Transport service Preserved Overhaul Scrapped Original no. TMS no. Introduced Withdrawn Livery Notes 1400 11 September 1955 November 1983 Preserved, on display at MOTAT. Was Daa 1400 1401 28 September 1955 July 1987 Preserved, in operation at Feilding and District Steam Rail Society. Was Daa 1401 1402 34 October 1955 February 1988 Scrapped. Was Daa 1402 1403 40 October 1955 February 1988 Scrapped. Was Daa 1403 1404 57 October 1955 February 1988 Scrapped. Was Daa 1404 1405 October 1955 Pre-1980 Scrapped. 1406 63 November 1955 February 1988 Scrapped. Was Daa 1406 1407 86 November 1955 April 1984 Scrapped. 1408 92 November 1955 March 1981 Scrapped. 1409 103 December 1955 November 1982 Scrapped. 1410 126 November 1955 June 1988 Preserved, Steam Incorporated. 1411 132 November 1955 April 1984 Scrapped. 1412 149 December 1955 November 1982 Scrapped. 1413 155 December 1955 April 1983 Scrapped. 1414 161 December 1955 April 1986 Scrapped. 1415 178 January 1956 April 1983 Scrapped. 1416 184 December 1955 November 1983 Scrapped. 1417 190 December 1955 June 1986 Scrapped. 1418 201 December 1955 November 1983 Scrapped. 1419 218 December 1955 February 1988 Scrapped. 1420 224 December 1955 November 1983 Scrapped. 1421 230 January 1956 February 1986 Scrapped. 1422 247 December 1955 February 1986 Scrapped. 1423 253 December 1955 November 1983 Scrapped. 1424 276 January 1956 April 1983 Scrapped. 1425 282 December 1955 November 1983 Scrapped. 1426 January 1956 March 23, 1977 Scrapped. Head-on collision with Dx 2639 between Parnell and Newmarket. 1427 299 January 1956 November 1982 Scrapped. 1428 316 January 1956 November 1982 Scrapped. 1429 322 January 1956 December 1987 Preserved. 1430 339 April 1957 May 1986 Scrapped. 1431 345 April 1957 June 1988 Preserved, Steam Incorporated. Mainline registered. Former Sesqui 1990 colours. 1432 351 June 1957 November 1983 Scrapped. 1433 368 June 1957 May 1984 Scrapped. 1434 374 July 1957 November 1983 Scrapped. 1435 380 July 1957 October 1985 Scrapped. 1436 August 1957 March 19, 1979 Scrapped. Written off after an accident at Matapihi, Tauranga. 1437 408 August 1957 February 1988 Scrapped. 1438 414 September 1957 May 1986 Scrapped. 1439 420 September 1957 March 1986 Scrapped. 1440 437 August 1961 February 1988 Scrapped. 1441 August 1961 Rebuilt as DC 4421 1442 443 August 1961 December 1988 Scrapped. 1443 466 August 1961 May 1986 Scrapped. 1444 472 August 1961 February 1989 Scrapped. 1445 489 August 1961 February 1989 Scrapped. 1446 495 August 1961 Rebuilt as DC 4513 1447 506 August 1961 December 1988 Scrapped. 1448 512 September 1961 Toll Rail To Tasman Forestry. Rebuilt as DAR517. Stored at Hutt Workshops 1449 529 September 1961 December 1988 Scrapped. 1450 535 September 1961 December 1988 Scrapped. 1451 541 September 1961 February 1988 Scrapped. 1452 558 October 1962 May 1989 Scrapped. 1453 564 November 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4916 1454 570 November 1962 August 1989 Scrapped. 1455 October 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4254 1456 587 November 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4945 1457 593 November 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4939 1458 November 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4450 1459 604 November 1962 Rebuilt as DC 4951 1460 610 November 1962 April 1989 Scrapped. 1461 627 November 1962 December 1988 Scrapped. 1462 633 October 1963 December 1988 Scrapped. 1463 656 October 1963 December 1988 Scrapped. 1464 662 October 1963 Rebuilt as DC 4565 1465 679 November 1963 Rebuilt as DC 4686 1466 685 November 1963 Rebuilt as DC 4640 1467 691 December 1963 December 1988 Scrapped. 1468 702 December 1963 December 1988 Scrapped. 1469 719 December 1963 Rebuilt as DC 4761. 1470 December 1963 Rebuilt as DC 4317. 1471 725 December 1963 August 1988 Stored out of service Hutt Workshops. 1472 731 September 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4703 1473 748 October 1964 December 1988 Scrapped. 1474 754 October 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4634 1475 760 October 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4847 1476 777 September 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4784 1477 783 October 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4657 1478 September 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4162 1479 800 November 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4922 1480 817 November 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4692 1481 823 November 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4818 1482 846 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4790 1483 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4277 1484 852 November 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4801 1485 869 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4853 1486 875 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4824 1487 881 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4778 1488 898 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4663 1489 909 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4588 1490 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4323 1491 915 December 1964 Rebuilt as DC 4628 1492 921 March 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4876 1493 March 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4283 1494 938 March 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4726 1495 944 March 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4749 1496 950 March 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4755 1497 April 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4473 1498 967 May 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4611 1499 973 May 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4732 1500 May 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4185 1501 April 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4035 1502 May 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4248 1503 May 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4438 1504 September 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4058 1505 September 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4536 1506 September 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4225 1507 July 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4041 1508 July 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4191 1509 August 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4110 1510 July 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4369 1511 September 1966 Rebuilt as DC 4179 1512 August 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4064 1513 August 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4156 1514 September 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4070 1515 September 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4087 1516 996 August 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4830 1517 August 1967 May 1974 Scrapped. 1518 August 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4300 1519 September 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4133 1520 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4104 1521 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4127 1522 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4571 1523 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4093 1524 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4605 1525 September 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4006 1526 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4444 1527 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4219 1528 September 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4352 1529 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4231 1530 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4415 1531 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4260 1532 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4012 1533 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4029 1534 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4496 1535 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4202 1536 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4346 1537 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4542 1538 October 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4594 1539 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4559 1540 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4375 1541 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4467 1542 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4398 1543 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4409 1544 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4381 1545 November 1967 Rebuilt as DC 4507 References
Books
- Parsons, David (2002). New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002. New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society. pp. 64. ISBN 0908573780. http://www.railsoc.org.nz/pub/books.htm.
Categories:- Locomotives of New Zealand
- A1A-A1A locomotives
- EMD locomotives
- GMD locomotives
- Clyde Engineering locomotives
- Railway locomotives introduced in 1955
- Cape gauge railway locomotives
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