| NZR DB/DBR class | |
|---|---|
| DBR 1199 at Westfield | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | General Motors Diesel Canada (builder) Clyde Engineering, Australia (rebuilder) |
| Model | EMD G8 |
| Build date | 1965–1966 (built) 1980–82 (rebuilt) |
| UIC classification | A1A-A1A |
| Gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Cape gauge |
| Length | 14.0 m (45.9 ft) |
| Weight on drivers | DB 47.0 t (46.3 long tons; 51.8 short tons) DBR 46.0 t (45.3 long tons; 50.7 short tons) |
| Locomotive weight | DB 69.0 t (67.9 long tons; 76.1 short tons) DBR 68.0 t (66.9 long tons; 75.0 short tons) |
| Prime mover | DB GM 8-567C DBR GM 8-645C |
| Aspiration | Roots-type supercharger |
| Displacement | DB 74.33 litres (4,536 cu in) DBR 84.56 litres (5,160 cu in) |
| Traction motors | Four EMD D29 |
| Cylinders | V8 |
| Top speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Power output | DBR 709 kW (951 hp) |
| Tractive effort | 100 kN (22,000 lbf) |
| Number in class | 17 |
| Number | Db 1000–1016 (original) DB 1001–1180 (TMS) DBR 1199–1295 |
| First run | DB 1965–1966 DBR 1980–1982 |
| Last run | DB 1986-1989 |
| Disposition | 10 rebuilt as DBR (8 in service) 9 scrapped (7 DB and 2 DBR) |
The NZR Db diesel-electric locomotive class was built in 1965-1966. They were 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 dominated was the East Coast Main Trunk to Tauranga via Paeroa, until the Kaimai Tunnel was opened in 1978. The Db class was built by General Motors Diesel (GMD) of Canada, had a wheel arrangement of A1A-A1A under the UIC classification system, had a EMD 567 2-cycle V8 engine generating 705 kW (950 hp), and could travel at speeds up to 90 km/h. Seventeen Db locomotives were built. Between 1980 and 1982, ten were rebuilt by Clyde Engineering as the DBR class.
Contents |
The reconstruction improved visibility for the driver and had an upgraded EMD 8-645 engine, prolonging their lives. Withdrawal of the unconverted DB locomotives began in 1986 while eight of the DBRs continue to operate as of August 2010. The DB class rarely ventured to the South Island, only for servicing and overhauls, but with the phasing out of the DJ class some DBRs were relocated to the South Island. By 2009 none of the class remained in South Island service. Of the eight DBRs in service, two are based in Wellington and six in Auckland. The first DBR to enter service was initially painted in the "Fruit Salad" livery as DB 1076, and was later reclassified and renumbered DBR 1199.
1200 and 1267 are mainly used to bank freight trains over the steep gradients of the NIMT Pukerua Bay section between Wellington and Paekakariki. As the two locomotives were usually seen operating in multiple and were both in the 'Fruit Salad' livery (until DBR 1267 was repainted in KiwiRail livery in August 2011), they have been nicknamed "The Twins" by railfans.
Since 2006, DBRs 1199 and 1254, in MAXX blue livery, have been used by Veolia in Auckland on each end of the five-car SX suburban set. DBR1226, a back-up locomotive, is painted in MAXX blue but lacks a MAXX logo. 1226 is normally used for freight services or work trains by KiwiRail, but it is used to replace either 1199 or 1254 when either breaks down, since it has the necessary modifications to work with the suburban carriages. If 1226 is unavailable a DC locomotive is used instead.
| Key: | In service | Out of service | Auckland Transport service | Preserved | Overhaul | Scrapped |
|---|
| Original no. | TMS no. | Introduced | Withdrawn | Rebuilt to | Current livery[1] | Status | Allocated to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Db 1000 | DB 1018 | June 1965 | February 1989 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1001 | DB 1001 | May 1965 | DBR 1213 | International Orange | In service | North Island | ||
| Db 1002 | DB 1024 | June 1965 | May 1982 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1003 | DB 1030 | June 1965 | DBR 1239 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1004 | DB 1047 | May 1965 | April 1988 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1005 | DB 1053 | October 1965 | DBR 1254 | MAXX Blue | In service | North Island | Auckland suburban services. | |
| Db 1006 | DB 1076 | September 1965 | DBR 1199 | MAXX Blue | In service | North Island | Auckland suburban services. | |
| Db 1007 | DB 1082 | October 1965 | February 1989 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1008 | DB 1099 | October 1965 | February 1989 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1009 | DB 1116 | October 1965 | DBR 1267 | KiwiRail | In service | North Island | First DBR to receive KiwiRail livery. | |
| Db 1010 | DB 1122 | December 1965 | DBR 1226 | MAXX Blue | In service | North Island | Back-up locomotive, freight service. | |
| Db 1011 | DB 1139 | December 1965 | DBR 1241 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1012 | DB 1145 | December 1965 | May 1986 | Scrapped. | ||||
| Db 1013 | DB 1151 | December 1965 | DBR 1295 | Toll Rail ("Corn Cob") | In service | North Island | ||
| Db 1014 | DB 1168 | January 1966 | DBR 1200 | International Orange | In service | North Island | ||
| Db 1015 | DB 1174 | January 1966 | DBR 1282 | International Orange | In service | North Island | ||
| Db 1016 | DB 1180 | February 1966 | February 1989 | Scrapped. |