NZR DX class
Two DX class locomotives on a coal train
Power type	Diesel-Electric
Builder	General Electric, United States
Model	U26C DXR:
Build date	1972-1975
UIC classification	Co-Co
Gauge	1067mm
Length	17.9 m
Width	3.013 m
Height	4.296 m
Total weight	97.5 t DXR: 105 t
Prime mover	General Electric 7FDL-12
Transmission	25/64 gear ratio
Top speed	120 km/h
Power output	Original: 2050 kW Uprated: 2240 kW
Career	New Zealand Railways, Tranz Rail, Toll Rail
Number in class	49
Number	TMS numbers: 5016 - 5500 DXR: 8007, 8022 Early numbers: 2600 - 2648
Nicknames	"Dixies" (DX) "The Pig" (DXR 8007)
First run	1972 DXR: 1993 and 2006
Disposition	2 rebuilt; 1 withdrawn; 46 in service

The General Electric DX class, consists of forty-nine locomotives built by General Electric of the United States between 1972 and 1975 for the then New Zealand Railways Department. The class is based on the General Electric U26C class, a scaled-down version of the GE U25C class for narrow-gauge railways. This class of locomotive is also used by other narrow-gauge railways in South Africa (Class 34) and Kenya. They were introduced originally to haul heavy freight trains on the North Island Main Trunk during the 1970s, the section of track they were restricted to until other lines in the NZR system were upgraded to handle their greater axle loading. Due to the partial electrification of the NIMT, completed in 1988, and the subsequent introduction of the EF Class electric locomotives, the DX Class were deployed for the first time to the South Island. The class were then used to haul freight on the South Island Main Trunk between Christchurch and Picton (the Main North Line) and Christchurch and Invercargill, the Main South Line. GE redirects here. ... The UIC classification is a comprehensive system for describing the wheel arrangement of locomotives. ... A British Rail Class 47 Co-Co locomotive. ... Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. ... For the philosophical/theological concept of a prime mover (that is, a self-existent being that is the ultimate cause or mover of all things), see cosmological argument. ... Toll NZ Limited (Tranz Rail Holdings Limited until May 2004) is the parent company of New Zealands principal railways operator. ... Toll Rail, commonly Toll, is the only long-haul railway operator in New Zealand. ... A locomotive (from Latin loco motivus) is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train, and has no payload capacity of its own; its sole purpose is to move the train along the tracks. ... GE Transportation Systems is the division of the General Electric corporation producing railroad locomotives and electrical and propulsion equipment for transit cars. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The New Zealand Railways Department, or NZGR (New Zealand Government Railways), often known as the Railways, was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealands rail infrastructure. ... Burlington Northern Railroad U25C #5603. ... Comparison of standard gauge (blue) and one common narrow gauge (red) width. ... The NIMT is the railway line connecting Auckland and Wellington, the two major cities of New Zealands North Island. ... Electrification refers to changing a thing or system to operate using electricity. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the third largest city in the country. ... Picton can refer to: Picton, New Zealand Picton, Australia Picton, Cheshire, England This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the third largest city in the country. ... Invercargill is the southern-most and western-most city in New Zealand, and one of the southern-most settlements in the world. ... The Main South Line is half of the South Island Main Trunk Railway in New Zealand and runs south from Lyttelton through Christchurch and down the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin. ...

The locomotives received an upgrade during 1988 with the introduction of single-manning to improve visibility for the driver - this involved a large single front window replacing the original configuration that had two small windows instead. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

DXR 8022 in Toll Rail colours

In 1993, New Zealand Rail Limited undertook a significant rebuilding of DX 5362 into the first of what was to be a new sub-class of the locomotives, the DXR class. The use of 'R' (like the DBR Class) denotes that the DX had been rebuilt. The locomotive features a new diesel engine, upgraded traction motors and is of radically different appearance to other DX class locomotives with an enlarged 'Universal Cab'. The DXR class is the most powerful class of diesel-electric locomotive ever operated in New Zealand. The DX rebuilding programme was to be much like the rebuilding of the DF Class into the DFT Class. However, due to the privatisation of New Zealand Rail Limited (renamed Tranz Rail in 1995) later in 1993, the new management decided not to undertake further DX class rebuilds. Following on from the purchase of Tranz Rail by Toll NZ in 2003, the new management authorised the rebuild of DX 5235, which became DXR 8022. Toll Rail, commonly Toll, is the only long-haul railway operator in New Zealand. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Toll NZ Limited (Tranz Rail Holdings Limited until May 2004) is the parent company of New Zealands principal railways operator. ... Toll NZ Limited (Tranz Rail Holdings Limited until May 2004) is the parent company of New Zealands principal railways operator. ... Toll NZ, properly Toll Consolidated NZ Ltd (NZX: TRH), New Zealands largest transport company in terms of annual revenue and size, has its headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. ...

The classifications DXB, DXC, and DXH are subclasses with a number of other modifications that have been carried out to the fleet. These modifications include modified air intakes, heavier drawgear, electronic traction control systems, uprated engines, new cabs and higher power traction motors. The main purpose of these modifications has been to enable the class to be used on the Midland line between Lyttelton and Greymouth in the South Island; particularly in the difficult 8.5km Otira - Arthur's Pass Otira Tunnel section, which was formerly electrified. The Midland line is a famous 212 km section of railway between Christchurch (Rolleston) and Greymouth in New Zealand. ... Lyttelton on a sunny day Lyttelton (43. ... Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region on the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... Arthurs Pass Arthurs Pass is an alpine crossing of the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Otira tunnel is a major railway tunnel on the Midland Line in the South Island of New Zealand between Otira and Arthurs Pass. ...

External links

• New Zealand Diesel and Electric Traction - Class DX

References

• Parsons, David - New Zealand Railway Motive Power 2002 [1]