New Zealand DSC class locomotive

New Zealand DSC class
DSC 2693 with a shunt north of Ashburton.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderBritish Thomson-Houston (18),
NZR Hillside Workshops and Addington Workshops (52)
Build date1958–1967
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICBo-Bo
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length11.66 m (38 ft 3 in)
Width2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Loco weight41.1 tonnes (40.5 long tons; 45.3 short tons)
Prime moverBTH: Rolls-Royce C6SFL, 2 off;
later: Rolls-Royce C6TFL, 2 off.
NZR: Leyland UE902, 2 off;
later: Cummins NT855, 2 off.
Performance figures
Maximum speed64 km/h (40 mph)
Power output315 kW (422 hp)
Tractive effort46 kN (10,300 lbf)
Career
OperatorsNew Zealand Railways, Tranz Rail, Toll Rail, KiwiRail
Number in class70
NumbersEarly numbers: 400–469
TMS numbers: 2000–2759
LocaleAll of New Zealand
First runMay 1959
RetiredFebruary 1989 – present
Disposition28 in service
2 withdrawn
34 scrapped
3 preserved
3 are owned by industrial users

The New Zealand DSC class locomotive[nb 1] 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 further 52 locomotives being built by New Zealand Railways (NZR).

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.[1] All remaining members of the class are now fitted with shunters refuges, and most are fitted with remote control capabilities.[2]


Cite error: There are <ref group=nb> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=nb}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ McClare 1980, p. 44.
  2. ^ Parsons 2002, p. 27.