NZR DG Class - Preservation

Preservation

With the phasing out of the DG class in the early 1980s, several locomotives were purchased for preservation. The first to be purchased were DG's 2232 and 2468 (DG's 770 and 791) by the Weka Pass Railway in 1983. Shortly after, the Diesel Traction Group purchased DG 2255 (DG 772) and moved it to their operating base at the Ferrymead Railway, while Roger Redward purchased DG's 2376 and 2451 (DG's 783 and 790) for his proposed Southern Rail museum in Christchurch. In addition, NZR considered adding DG 2445 to its Heritage Fleet at the time. However, 2445 had a cracked engine block, which did not fit with NZR's policy of operating Heritage Fleet locomotives. Due to the extent of the cracking, it was decided to be uneconomic to repair, and so the locomotive was scrapped by Sims Pacific Metal Industries in Dunedin.

Following Roger Redward's death in 1988, NZ Rail decided to re-possess all of Redward's collection held on NZR property as Redward had failed to make several rent payments. Although owners were sought for the vehicles, no home could be found for DG 2451, and so NZ Rail sold it to Sims Pacific Metal Industries who broke it up in their Sockburn yard in March 1990. DG 2376 was sold in 1988 to the Weka Pass Railway, who were at the time seeking spare parts to maintain their two locomotives, and trucked to their Waipara yard where it was gradually stripped of most of its useful parts.

DG 2255 was restored as DG 772 in 1988 and participated in the 'Ferrymead 125' event, during which it hauled a short excursion train with DE 511 to Springfield and return. It remained in active service until the early 1990s, during which time it covered for Weka Pass' DG 791, which had cracked the bolster on its leading bogie and had been removed from traffic to allow the better bolster from DG 2376 to be fitted in its place. After this it became inactive until 2005, when the Diesel Traction Group began its restoration. This was completed in 2008; as part of this, the locomotive's Westinghouse A7EL brake system was replaced by the newer 26L system, and it was fitted with ditch lights, a VHF radio and an events recorder to allow it to run on the main line.

In 2005, Weka Pass decided to sell the remains of DG 2376 with the condition that it was removed from Waipara after purchase. The locomotive was subsequently purchased by Darryl Bond and Evan Batchelor, who had the derelict locomotive moved to Ferrymead, where it was planned to restore the locomotive. The locomotive's front bogie (fitted with the cracked bolster ex-DG 791) has since been repaired, the body largely de-rusted, and parts have been acquired to begin to restore the locomotive to service in the later 'International Orange' livery, which 2376 never carried in service.

At present, DG's 770 and 791 are in regular use by the Weka Pass Railway. They were returned to their original numbers in 1988, at which time they had the railway's name painted to the rear of the cab door, although they retained their 'International Orange' livery. In 1999, prior to the re-opening of the line from Herbert's Crossing to Waikari, both were repainted in the original NZR Red with Larch Yellow nose stripes. The two locomotives are regularly used from late November to early March when fire bans are in place, or to haul occasional work trains.