NZR DSC class
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| NZR DSC class | |
| Power type | Diesel-Electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | British Thomson Houston (18), NZR Hillside Workshops and Addington Workshops (52) |
| Build date | 1959 - 1967 |
| UIC classification | Bo - Bo |
| Gauge | 1067mm |
| Length | 11.66m |
| Width | 2.54m |
| Height | 3.5m |
| Total weight | 41.1t |
| Prime mover | BTH: 2x Rolls Royce C6SFL; NZR: 2x Leyland UE902 2x Cummins NT855 |
| Top speed | 64 km/h |
| Power output | 315 kW |
| Career | New Zealand Railways, Tranz Rail, Toll Rail |
| Number in class | 70 |
| Number | TMS numbers: 2000 - 2759 Early numbers: 400 - 469 |
| Locale | All of New Zealand |
| First run | 1958 |
| Last run | 1989 - |
| Disposition | 44 in service; 25 withdrawn; 1 preserved |
The NZR DSC class is a class of heavy shunting locomotive used throughout New Zealand. The class was built in 7 batches, the first 18 locomotives being built by British Thomson Houston of the United Kingdom, with the remainder being built by New Zealand Railways.
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. All members of the class are now fitted with shunters' refuges, and most are fitted with remote control capabilities.
[edit] Withdrawal
As part of the programme of the New Zealand Railways Corporation to rationalise the locomotive fleet in the late 1980s, a number of the older (mainly British Thomson Houston built) locomotives were scrapped. One British Thomson Houston locomotive was sold to Kiwi Co-Operative Diary (now Fonterra) for use at their Hawera plant.
[edit] Preservation
One class member has been sold to Mainline Steam, and is used as their depot shunting locomotive at Plimmerton.
