Videos
A collection of videos featuring the DTG fleet of English Electric locomotives in action on either heritage railways or on the KiwiRail network at the head of excursion trains in the South Island.
The Diesel Traction Group's De 512 (formerly DE 1429), is on a long term lease with the Weka Pass Railway and has been in the process of a repaint since 2020. In 2023, the majority of the locomotive's cosmetic overhaul has been completed and the De is now a popular attraction on the Weka Pass Railway, occasionally hauling their passenger trains.
De 511, is one of five examples of English Electric manufactured locomotives built for the New Zealand Railways, that have been saved and become part of the Diesel Traction Group's collection in Christchurch. 511 had operated in preservation many years ago, from when it was parked up for many years until 2017 when Peter Weir, a young high school student and member of the DTG started working on the getting the locomotive operational again.
On Sunday 5th July 2020, like many other railway preservation groups around New Zealand, the Weka Pass Railway re-commenced passenger operations to the public, after the country's Covid-19 restrictions were eased off. A rarity for the day's motive power was DE 1429, which is on a long term loan from the Diesel Traction Group based at Ferrymead in Christchurch, as the locomotive is usually only used for shunting and work train duties.
On Wednesday 24th June 2020, Dunedin Railways ran a delivery trip from Dunedin to Christchurch with Di 1102 hauling Dj 1209, plus passenger carriage A 3022 & generator van AG 239, both heading to Steam Incorporated on lease. The Di was returning to its home base of the Diesel Traction Group at Ferrymead following the end of its lease to Dunedin Railways over the recent cruise ship season.
In September 2019, the Diesel Traction Group's Di class no. 1102 was transferred to Dunedin on a 6 month lease with Dunedin Railways to assist as back-up motive power alongside their fleet of Dj class locomotives, for the cruise ship season of 2019/2020. Over a weekend in November 2019, we capture the locomotive on mainline duties hauling a cruise ship charter and a public excursion through the Taieri Gorge to Middlemarch, paired with one of Dunedin Railways' Dj locomotives.
At the end of September 2019, the Diesel Traction Group's Di 1102 was transferred from the group's home base at Ferrymead to Dunedin locomotive depot. The 1966 built diesel electric is on lease to Dunedin Railways for their summer cruise ship season for 2019 - 2020, it will act as a back up to the operator's fleet of Dj class locomotives and be used on regular Taieri Gorge & cruise ship passenger duties.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2018, Dg 772 & Di 1102 hauled Steam Incorporated's Southern Diesel Rail Tour from Dunedin to Christchurch on the last day of the tour. We follow the pair heading north on the Main South Line working up many hills and along flat plains plus their return to their home base at Ferrymead in the evening.
Labour Weekend 2018 in Dunedin marked the 50th anniversary since the first of the Dj class diesel electric locomotives, built by Mitsubishi Electric in Japan, entered service with the New Zealand Railways in the South Island, during 1968. To add interest to the event, Di 1102 & Dg 772 hauled excursion trains up the Taieri Gorge Railway & south to Invercargill often paired with some of Dunedin Railways’ Dj locomotives.
On Wednesday 17th October 2018, Steam Incorporated traveled over the Midland Line from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass & return with Di 1102 & Dg 772 providing the motive power. This was Di 1102’s first mainline excursion since a nine year restoration completed in early 2018.
In early September 2018, we go into the driver's & loco assistant's perspective for an afternoon on the Weka Pass Railway as we take a ride up front on Di 1102.
Highlights from Di 1102’s intended 3 month visit to the Weka Pass Railway in August 2018, seen on passenger train services to Waikari plus field diversion testing using Dg’s 770 & 772 in dynamic brake mode, acting as a full load on 1102’s drawbar.
On Sunday 15th July 2018, Di 1102 began to be put through its paces for testing and certification on the Weka Pass Railway after a nine year restoration job undertaken by the Diesel Traction Group. On this wet North Canterbury day she operated the two public passenger services from Glenmark to Waikari and return.
During July 2018, the Diesel Traction Group arranged a hook & tow agreement with KiwiRail to transfer Di 1102 & Dg 772 from their home at Ferrymead to the Weka Pass Railway at Waipara. Along the way, Di 1102 had it’s tyres re-profiled on the wheel lathe at Addington so that it will have a fresh set of tyres for a new life operating heritage excursions.
On Saturday 31st March 2018, the Canterbury Railway Society & DTG hosted a railfans day on the Ferrymead Railway during Easter Weekend. The day saw the first public outing of Di 1102 after a recently completed nine year restoration, plus a variety of steam, diesel & electric motive power in action on various heritage consists.
On Saturday 14th October 2017, another major milestone for DTG based at Ferrymead Heritage Park was achieved when the first engine testing of the sole surviving member of the Di class, no. 1102 built by the English Electric Australia works, in Queensland, in 1966 was undertaken after a nine year long restoration.
DE 1429 has been on loan to the Weka Pass Railway from the DTG, Ferrymead since September 2015 as a shunting locomotive for the railway while Dsa 276 is out of action. While based in Waipara, the opportunity to run a rail photographer’s day was held on Saturday 20th May 2017 featuring English Electric motive power in action including a triple header with the Weka Pass Railway’s Dg’s 791 & 770.
During Easter Monday 2017 - The Canterbury Railway Society hosted a running day with a difference featuring forms of English Electric built motive power in action. During the day, Dg 772 from DTG was paired with electric locomotive Eo 3 running a 2 car passenger train over the railway including the turning triangle.
DTG’s DE 1429 has been leased to the Weka Pass Railway in North Canterbury since September 2015. The locomotive has been assigned to their works trains and shunting duties and we capture one of these operations heading up the line to replace a number of sleepers.
On Saturday 12th April 2014, DTG and the Canterbury Railway Society used Dg 772 & DE 1429 with a mixed train during a cold autumn evening. This event was to raise funds for the DTG's restoration project on locomotive Di 1102.
