Cato Blue is an informal term describing a New Zealand railway locomotive livery (resulting from the combination of blue, grey and yellow in the colour scheme) found in common usage amongst the railfan community. The livery was first worn on DFT 7160 as a variation of the New Zealand Rail blue livery. With the introduced of Tranz Rail on 18 October 1995, the livery was adopted to replace New Zealand Rails blue livery, which was introduced in 1991. The scheme was known as Cato Blue after its creator, Cato Partners. DFT 7199 was the first locomotive repainted in the livery after Tranz Rail took over the rail system.
It wasn't just locomotives that were repainted in the livery. All of the 44 Ganz-Mavag built EM/ET electric multiple units, along with one of the English Electric built DM/D EMU units were also repainted in the Cato Blue livery, with the Tranz Metro logo on the side of each car. Tranz Scenics 56-foot, 60-foot and 64-foot carriages and AG vans were also repainted in the livery, with the Tranz Scenic logo on each of side of the carriages. Several 56-foot carriages, that were used on the Wairarapa Connection until 2007, had the Tranz Metro logo on them.
It was then replaced in May 2001 when Tranz Rail introduced the Bumble-Bee livery to promote level crossing safety.
As of 000000002017-01-01-0000January 2017, one DCP, ten DSCs, one EF and two TRs still operate in this livery. AG 153 can be seen being used on the Capital Connection when AG 130 is out of service. Although the two ADs, and five AGs are in storage in Otahuhu and Waltham, they are still operational and can be seen being used on special occasions.
Since the introduction of the livery in October 1995, there have been a couple of variations on several locomotives:
Several locomotives that were repainted in the New Zealand Rail livery, had the Tranz Rail logo painted over the New Zealand Rail logo, along with a blue oblong patch. Some locos received the livery with blue cab stripes.A small group of locos had truncated stripes long enough to cover over the non-reflective numbersDFT 7145 had blue cab stripes, but without the numbers applied for a short period of time.DXs 5431 and 5517 had been repainted into the livery, but yellow cabs instead of grey. Both locos were repainted in the original version before being repainted in this variation, and later they had black chutes fitted on the right side of the long-hood.TR 943 was repainted in the livery with blue all over the sides of the long and short hoods and cab, grey on top of the hoods and cab, yellow head-stocks and the Tranz Rail logo painted on the cab. The loco was original repainted in this livery by Hillside Workshops with "Transtec Engineering Dunedin" painted on the sides of the long-hood, but this was later removed.With the rights to Cato Blue sold to Tranz Scenic in 2001, DCP 4761 received a repaint in the livery, but with the Tranz Scenic logo in place of the Tranz Rail logo. DCPs 4559 and 4628 had the Tranz Scenic logo painted on over the Tranz Rail logo. DSC 2624 was repainted by Tranz Scenic with the cab being repainted yellow, instead of grey.
DAR class:
517 - repainted in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery and now stored at Hutt WorkshopsDC class:
4041 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4058 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4093 - repainted in the MAXX blue livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4110 - now stored at Hutt Workshops4162 - now scrapped4185 - repainted in the Bumble-Bee livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4191 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4202 - now scrapped4219 - now stored at Hutt Workshops4231 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4283 - now stored at Hutt Workshops4300 - repainted in the Bumble-Bee livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4346 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4352 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4369 - repainted in the MAXX livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4381 - repainted in the MAXX livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4398 - repainted in the Bumble-Bee livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4438 - repainted in the Bumble-Bee livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops4467 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4496 - now scrapped4507 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4542 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4588 - shipped to Tasmania and now scrapped4594 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4640 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4657 - now scrapped4692 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4726 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4732 - repainted in the MAXX livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4749 - now scrapped4784 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and sold to Progress Rail4922 - repainted in the MAXX livery and now stored at Hutt WorkshopsDCP class:
4513 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4559 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4611 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4628 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery4634 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery47554761 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 liveryDFB class:
7010 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7158 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7160 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7173 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7186 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and under overhaul at Hutt Workshops7200 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7213 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7239 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7241 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7267 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7282 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7307 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7348 (as DFT 7254) - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 liveryDFT class:
7008 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery7023 - repainted in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery and now undergoing an overhaul and conversion to a DFB at Hutt Workshops7036 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7049 - repainted in the Bumble-Bee livery and now undergoing an overhaul and conversion to a DFB at Hutt Workshops7051 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7064 - now stored at Hutt Workshops7077 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops7092 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7104 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7117 - now stored at Hutt Workshops7132 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops7145 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7199 - repainted in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops7226 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7295 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery7322 - now undergoing an overhaul and conversion to a DFB at Hutt Workshops7335 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsDH class:
2816 - now in the KiwiRail livery2822 - now in the KiwiRail livery2839 - now in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery2845 - now in the KiwiRail livery2851 - now in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery2868 - now in the KiwiRail liveryDQ class:
6007 - shipped to Tasmania6013 - shipped to Tasmania6036 - shipped to Tasmania6324 - shipped to Durban, South Africa6330 - shipped to Tasmania6347 - shipped to Durban, South Africa6353 - shipped to Tasmania6376 - shipped to Durban, South Africa6382 - shipped to Durban, South AfricaDSA class:
551 - now preserved by the Goldfields RailwayDSC class:
22032216 - repainted in Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery and now scrapped22292244 - now in the KiwiRail livery2257 - now owned by Ravensdown, New Plymouth2285 - now stored at Hutt Workshops2298 - now scrapped2312 - now in the KiwiRail livery23252338 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and for sale2340 - now in the KiwiRail livery235323662379 - now in the KiwiRail livery2381 - now scrapped24062419 - now in the KiwiRail livery2421 - now owned by Alliance Meats, Lorneville2434 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and for sale2447 - now in the KiwiRail livery2462 - now in the Toll Rail livery2475 - now scrapped2490 - now in the KiwiRail livery25022515 - now in the KiwiRail livery2528 - now scrapped253025432556 - now in the KiwiRail livery2569 - now in the KiwiRail livery2584 - now preserved by the Waitara Railway Preservation Society.2597 - now in the KiwiRail livery2609 - now scrapped2624 - now in the KiwiRail livery26522665 - now in the KiwiRail livery2678 - now in the KiwiRail livery2680 - now stored at Hutt Workshops and for sale2693 - now in the KiwiRail livery2705 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery2718 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery2720 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery2733 - now scrapped2746 - now in the KiwiRail livery2759 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage TrustDSG class:
3005 - now in the KiwiRail livery3018 - now in the KiwiRail livery3020 - now in the KiwiRail livery3033 - now in the KiwiRail livery3046 - now in the KiwiRail livery3059 - now in the KiwiRail livery3061 - now in the KiwiRail livery3074 - now in the KiwiRail livery3087 - now in the KiwiRail livery3101 - now in the KiwiRail livery3127 - now in the KiwiRail livery3155 - now in the KiwiRail livery3168 - now in the KiwiRail livery3170 - now in the KiwiRail livery3196 - now in the KiwiRail livery3210 - now in the KiwiRail livery3236 - now in the KiwiRail livery3249 - now in the KiwiRail livery3264 - now in the KiwiRail livery3277 - now in the KiwiRail livery3304 - now in the KiwiRail liveryDSJ class:
4017 - now in the KiwiRail livery4032 - now in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" livery4060 - now in the Toll Rail "Corn-Cob" liveryDXB class:
5016 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5022 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5051 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5068 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5074 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5080 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5097 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery5108 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5114 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5120 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5137 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery5143 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery5166 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5448 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 liveryDXC class:
5039 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery5172 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5189 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5206 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5212 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5258 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5264 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5270 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5293 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery5304 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5310 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5327 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5333 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5356 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5385 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5391 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5402 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5425 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5431 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5454 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5460 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5483 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5517 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery5520 (as 5045) - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 liveryDXR class:
8007 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 liveryQR class:
2027 - shipped to Illinois2056 - shipped to Tasmania2062 - shipped to Tasmania2079 - shipped to Illinois2085 - shipped to Illinois2102 - shipped to Tasmania3032 - shipped to TasmaniaTR class:
730 - now preserved by the Museum of Transport and Technology799 - now scrapped822868880 - now in the KiwiRail livery943 - now preserved by the National Railway Museum of New ZealandEF class:
30192DM/D class:
DM 147/D 2842 - repainted into the Tranz Metro "Two-Tone" Blue livery and now scrappedEM/ET class:
EM 1004/ET 3004 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1010/ET 3010 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1027/ET 3027 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1056/ET 3056 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1062/ET 3062 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1079/ET 3079 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1085/ET 3085 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1091/ET 3091 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1102/ET 3102 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1119/ET 3119 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1131/ET 3131 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1148/ET 3148 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1154/ET 3154 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1160/ET 3160 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1177/ET 3177 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1183/ET 3183 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1217/ET 3217 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1223/ET 3223 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1246/ET 3246 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1252/ET 3252 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1269/ET 3269 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1281/ET 3281 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1298/ET 3298 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1309/ET 3309 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1315/ET 3315 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1321/ET 3321 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1338/ET 3338 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1344/ET 3344 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1350/ET 3350 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1367/ET 3367 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1373/ET 3373 - repainted in the Metlink Grey livery and now preserved by the Canterbury Railway SocietyEM 1396/ET 3396 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1407/ET 3407 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsEM 1413/ET 3413 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1436/ET 3436 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1442/ET 3442 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1459/ET 3459 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1465/ET 3465 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1471/ET 3471 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1488/ET 3488 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1494/ET 3494 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1505/ET 3505 - now stored in the Wellington Rail YardEM 1511/ET 3511 - now shipped to South AfricaEM 1528/ET 3528 - now stored at Hutt WorkshopsA class:
2028 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2052 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2079 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2095 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2100 - now scrapped2127 - now scrapped2218 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2234 - now preserved by Steam Incorporated2242 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2250 - now scrapped2269 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2277 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2325 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways3022 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways56030 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts Society56121 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts Society56156 - now preserved by Steam Incorporated56180 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts Society56263 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts Society56496 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts Society56544 - now preserved by Steam Incorporated56595 - now preserved by the Kingston Flyer56742 - now preserved by the Railway Enthusiasts SocietyAB class:
3534 - now preserved by Steam IncorporatedAC class:
3548 - now preserved by the Weka Pass RailwayAL class:
2015 - formerly preserved by the Weka Pass Railway and now scrapped2021 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2050 - now scrapped2067 - now scrapped2073 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways2096 - now preserved by Dunedin RailwaysAO class:
19 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust25 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust31 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust48 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust54 - now stored in Middlemarch60 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust77 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways83 - now stored in Middlemarch100 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust117 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust123 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust146 - now stored in Middlemarch152 - now stored in Middlemarch169 - now stored in Middlemarch175 - now stored in Middlemarch181 - now stored in Middlemarch198 - now stored in Middlemarch209 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust215 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust221 - now stored in Middlemarch238 - now stored in MiddlemarchAS class:
30 - now preserved by the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society56073 - now preserved by Steam IncorporatedASO class:
1 - now stored in Middlemarch14 - formerly preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust and now scrapped27 - now preserved by Steam Incorporated108 - now stored in Middlemarch110 - now stored in Middlemarch136 - now preserved by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust149 - now stored in Middlemarch151 - now stored in MiddlemarchAD class:
1403 - now stored in Waltham1432 - now stored in WalthamS class:
3170 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3177 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3190 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3200 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3207 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3211 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery3245 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue liveryAG class:
49- now stored in Otahuhu55 - now rebuilt as AKV 3961 - now rebuilt as AKV 2678 - now rebuilt as AKL 3490 - now stored in Waltham101 - now rebuilt as AKV 13118 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways124 - now rebuilt as AKL 21130 - now repainted in the Capital Connection Blue livery147 - now stored in Waltham153176 - now scrapped182 - now stored in Waltham199 - now stored in Waltham216 - now rebuilt as AKV 41222 - now repainted in the Metlink Blue livery239 - now preserved by Dunedin Railways245 - now rebuilt as AKL 19
