New Zealand DX class locomotive

Class of 49 New Zealand diesel locomotives

The New Zealand DX class locomotive is a type of 49 Co Co diesel electric locomotives that currently operate on New Zealand's national railway network. All locomotives are owned by KiwiRail. Built by GE Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, they were introduced to New Zealand between 1972 and 1976. The class is based on the General Electric U26C model, a narrow gauge version of the GE U23C model. The locomotives are regarded as one of the most successful purchases in NZR's history. The locomotives have seen several upgrades since their introduction and three sub classes now exist: the DXB, DXC and DXR.

The DX class was introduced in response to a requirement for a more powerful locomotive to handle traffic on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). Before their introduction the heaviest freight and passenger trains on the line required two members of the DA class to haul them. The DX class could haul heavier and faster trains than two DAs, even though they produced 70 kilowatts less than two DA class, as the single DX weighed 97.5 tonnes compared to the two DA class locomotives combined weight of 162 tonnes. Tenders opened for what was to become known as the DX class in December 1969. The order for the first 15 DX class locomotives was placed on 24 August 1970. They were the first locomotives built by General Electric in New Zealand and were the most powerful ever used in New Zealand at the time of their introduction.

The classification of the new locomotives was announced as the "DX" class. Their introduction led to a dispute between New Zealand Railways and the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association (then the trade union representing NZR locomotive staff) over additional pay. The union argued more powerful locomotives meant less work for its members and successfully took NZR to the Government Railways Industrial Tribunal for additional pay in July 1972. The additional pay was known as a "horsepower allowance". With bridges progressively strengthened throughout the North Island, and to further increase capacity on the NIMT in particular, 34 more members of the class were introduced in 1975 and 1976. This was the first use of the class on the Palmerston North Gisborne Line and the northern section of the Wairarapa Line between Masterton and Woodville. At the same time, experiments began with DX class locomotives in the then electrified Otira Tunnel. While the initial tests were unsuccessful, later testing in 1991 found that modifying the locomotives with special air intake ducts and adding ventilation fans would allow the DX class to be used without electric locomotives. and two members to haul it on the other sections of the line. These services are now exclusively hauled by the DXC sub class. The class are also involved in general freight operations, and also employed periodically to haul the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific passenger trains. In the North Island, the DXB sub class were the primary haulers of milk trains to Fonterra's Whareroa factory near Hāwera on the MNPL, usually operated in pairs to haul these trains up the 1 in 35 Westmere Bank north of Wanganui. The class is also involved in other freight operations in the lower North Island, usually operating singly or in multiple with other locomotives. A small number, including both DXRs, were based in the upper North Island, primarily in general freight use on the ECMT. With the allocation of the new DL class locomotives to that area, these locomotives were transferred to the South Island in late 2011. The class were also periodically used to haul through trains on the central NIMT when EF locomotives are unavailable or the electrification requires maintenance. They were the primary haulers of the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington. In October 2013, KiwiRail reassigned six DXBs to the South Island due to the commissioning of the second batch of the DL class, leaving three assigned in the North Island. All of these locomotives, including the units assigned to the South Island prior October 2013, were transferred back to the North Island to cover for the DL locomotives in March 2014, as the DL class were temporarily withdrawn from service after they tested positive for asbestos. All units are now operating in the South Island as of March 2020.

The DX class was originally numbered from 2600 to 2648 which in common with NZR practice of the time was based on power output (2600 hp). With the introduction of the computerised Traffic Monitoring System (TMS) in 1979, the class was renumbered. The DX class received four digit numbers starting with 5, in which the fourth number is a check digit for the number. The locomotives were numbered in order, with DX 2600 renumbered DX5016 (6 being the check digit) and DX 2648 renumbered DX5517. The numbers 500x, 515x, 534x and 549x were not used as these numbers do not generate a valid check digit, and DX 2639 never received a TMS number as it had been withdrawn by then. The DXB and DXC sub classes have kept their original TMS numbers, while the DXR class received new TMS numbers beginning with 8, numbered irrespective of their DX number. DX5045 received a new TMS number using the DXB algorithm (5520) when it was upgraded and returned to service following being involved in a fatal derailment at Te Wera in 2002 (when re introduced into service, the DXB classification was used to denote what is now the DXC sub class).

Upon introduction, all the DX class members were painted in a livery consisting of the locomotive body painted orange except for a chrome yellow segment that curved down from the top of the locomotive's long hood and ran back to its trailing end. The cheat line separating the orange from the yellow was approximately half way up the side of the locomotive. The reasons for this livery have not been established. This livery was known as "Clockwork Orange" after the Stanley Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange." The bogies and fuel tank were painted a flat grey colour and North American automatic couplers were fitted – these being soon changed to a beefed up version of the NZR chopper type. Between 1977 and 1986, the entire class was repainted in the International Orange "Fruit Salad" livery red, grey, and yellow, which most of the class wore until the end of the decade. This livery had the road numbers displayed on the sides of the locomotives in large white numbers with DX 2612 the first to be painted as such. Since then, members of the DX class have received liveries including Cato Blue (Fruit Salad with blue instead of red), Bumble Bee (black and yellow), Corn Cob (green and yellow) and the KiwiRail phase 1 and 2 schemes (grey, orange or red, and yellow). No DXs remain in the Fruit Salad, Cato Blue, Bumble Bee and Corn Cob liveries.

The locomotives received an upgrade during 1988 with the introduction of single manning to improve visibility for the driver, with a large single front window replacing the original two small windows.

Between 2013 and 2016, the DXC class were fitted with fire suppression to run the TranzAlpine through the Otira Tunnel on the Midland Line due to a change in requirements resulting from the Commission of Inquiry in the Pike River Mine disaster, and as well on any other passenger trains on the Main North and Main South lines. Because of this, the number of Otira bankers have gone from three to five, which allows any locomotive without the system to be shut down. In mid 2016, the number of bankers were reduced from five to four. as of 2016, all 32 units have been fitted with fire suppression.

There are two sub classes of the DX DXB and DXC. The classifications DXB and DXC reflect modifications that have been carried out to the fleet. These include heavier drawgear, uprated engines, new cabs, (some have received DFT style low hoods) and higher power traction motors. The designation DXB denotes that the locomotive has been fitted with the Brightstar electronic traction control system, while DXC denotes that the locomotive has been additionally fitted with modified air intakes ("chutes") as well as all the other upgrades including Brightstar. Thirteen of the original batch of 15 have been upgraded to DXB standard (DXC 5039 and DXC 5520 (née 5045) being the exceptions), and most of those from the subsequent batches upgraded to DXC standard exceptions being DX 2639 (long since withdrawn from service). Generally the DXC sub class is assigned to the South Island, as the modified air intakes were designed to assist in are useful for working the Midland Line, coal trains (see above) particularly in the formerly electrified Otira Tunnel section, whereas the DXB sub class were predominantly assigned to the North Island. Following the introduction of the first twenty DL class locomotives, four DXBs were reassigned to the South Island for general freight service on the Main South Line, while DXC class locomotives have appeared in the North Island while on shakedown runs after overhaul. The plain DX class is designated by GE as U26C, the newer upgrades are designated C26 MMI (2,750 hp DXB/DXC) and C30 MMI (3,250 hp DXB/DXC).

In 1993, New Zealand Rail Limited undertook a significant rebuilding of DX5362 into the first of what was to be a new sub class, the DXR. DX5362 had been stored out of service at Hutt Workshops since early in 1989 suffering a cracked frame, and therefore was an ideal candidate for the rebuilding programme. Work began to fit the locomotive with a new GE 7 FDL diesel engine, upgraded traction motors with a ratio of 5.17 to the then standard DX ratio of 4.55, and a new design of "Universal Cab" with a shorter low hood and more angular appearance. The use of 'R' (like the DBR class) denotes that the new locomotive was a rebuilt DX. The newly rebuilt DX received the number DXR8007 when it entered service in 1993 along with the prototype DFT class rebuild, DFT7008. Initially, it was intended that New Zealand Rail would rebuild all of the DX class locomotives to DXR specifications similar to the programme of the rebuilding of the DF class into the DFT class, but after 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, due to the cost. One locomotive was however rebuilt to these original DXR specifications during the Tranz Rail years, DX5310 in 2001 for its return to service following its derailment at Pukehou while hauling the Bay Express in 1995. It did not though receive a new DXR style cab, so it retained its original DX classification until it was overhauled to DXC standards in 2010. Following the purchase of Tranz Rail by Toll in 2003, the new management authorised the rebuild of DX5235 itself having been stored since being damaged in a collision in Christchurch in 2000 which became DXR 8022. The new DXR featured minor differences in the carbody hood and a MkII version of the "Universal Cab" which was boxier than the previous MkI variant as applied to DXR8007. The new DXR rebuild was classified as DXR8022 (due to DXR801 not generating a valid check digit) and entered service in late 2005. It was decided to rebuild DXR8007 to match 8022 in the interests of standardisation, and so 8007 was again rebuilt at Hutt Workshops in 2006. Upon each rebuild, GE classified 8022 (and reclassified 8007) as model C30 8Mi. As rebuilt by New Zealand Rail, DXR8007 was classified by GE as their model C30 7M. In 2007, DXR8022 was one of the locomotives involved in a biofuel trial using a fuel mix of 5 per cent biodiesel and 95 per cent regular diesel over a period of six months. With the introduction of the DL class locomotives into service the two DXRs were transferred to the South Island, and are now used between Middleton and Picton. At , the DXR class was the most powerful class of diesel electric locomotive ever operated in New Zealand, until the introduction of the DL class in 2010, which surpassed the DXRs power output with .

In mid 2018, it was announced 15 DX class locomotives are to be overhauled, and given an electronic upgrade. The locomotives are to be overhauled with 3,300 hp rated GE 7FDL 12 EFI diesel engine prime movers with electronic fuel injection. They will also be given the latest version of the Brightstar engine control system, new engine control and wiring harness, and new high capacity fuel tank, along with a new battery box assembly. will have a newly designed long hood (similar to the DXRs) fitted with chutes, and the short hood will be lowered. As of 2021, 5212 and 5454 have overhauled and have been fitted with the EFI prime mover. 5391 is currently under overhaul, and will be the third to receive one.

as of 2021, two DX class locomotive had been withdrawn from service. The first, DX 2639 was involved in a crash south of the Parnell Tunnel near Newmarket station, at around 4:00pm on 23 March 1977. The locomotive was hauling a Wellington to Auckland express freight train when it crashed head on into an Auckland to Helensville passenger train being hauled by DA 1426 that was on the wrong line. The cause was related to human error during a signalling failure. DX 2639 was subsequently written off and scrapped in September 1978, after less than a year in service. The second DX to be withdrawn is DXC5500, which was stripped for the now defunct DXE project. The locomotive is currently stored at Hutt Workshops as chassis only. It is unlikely for the locomotive to be rebuilt and returned to service. Stadler won the tender to build the new locomotives, to be classified DM class.