NZR DB CLASS

The NZR 'DB class' was a group of diesel-electric locomotive built in 1965-1966 to operate on New Zealand's national railway network. They were designed as a lighter version of the DA class to operate on secondary North Island lines from which the DA was excluded due to its weight. One of the principal lines which the DB class dominated was the line to Tauranga via Paeroa, until the Kaimai Tunnel was opened in 1978. The DB class was built by General Motors of Canada, had a wheel arrangement of A1A-A1A under the UIC classification system, could generate 705 kW (950 hp) of power, and travel at speeds up to 90 km/h. Seventeen DB class locomotives were built in total.

Contents

DBR class

Suburban Services

External links

DBR class

Between 1980 and 1982, ten of the DB class were rebuilt as the 'DBR class'. The reconstruction improved visibility for the driver and enhanced the locomotives' engines, prolonging their lives. Withdrawal of the unconverted DB locomotives began in 1986 while the DBRs continue to operate, mainly on New Zealand's few remaining branch lines. The DB class rarely ventured to the South Island, and even then only for servicing and overhauls, but with the phasing out of the DJ class, some DBRs have been relocated to the South Island.

Suburban Services

Since 2006 two DBR's (1199 and 1254) are (in the MAXX blue livery) being used by Veolia (Auckland) on each end of a five-car suburban local set. DBR 1226, a back-up loco, is coloured in MAXX Blue as well without a MAXX logo. 1226 is normally used for freight services - however it is used to replace either 1199 and 1254 when either breaks down since it has the necessary modifications to work with the suburban carriages.

DBR 1199 at Westfield

DBR 1254 at Westfield

External links

★ Auckland Regional Council - Auckland's Train Fleet - Locomotives

★ New Zealand Diesel and Electric Traction - Class DB

★ New Zealand Diesel and Electric Traction - Class DBR