NZR DJ Class - Withdrawals

Withdrawals

The first withdrawals of the class began in 1986 when five were placed in storage in Invercargill. In 1988 one locomotive, 3303, was sold to the Ohai Railway Board. When NZR took over the ORB in 1991, the DJ returned to NZR ownership. It was subsequently on sold to Mainline Steam, still painted in its ORB yellow scheme as ORB NO 3.

To preserve the life of the class, the top power notch was removed except on the first five locos which were kept for working the Southerner passenger trains. Later on, some of the class were transferred to the North Island for storage. The last locomotive to work in normal NZR service was withdrawn in August 1991. The DJ class were able to be retired early due to replacement by DC and DX class locomotives becoming available for South Island service as a result of the electrification of the North Island Main Trunk.