Model U10B UIC class Bo-Bo | Build date 1978 Length 11.2 m (36 ft 9 in) | |
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Power type Diesel-Electric Shunter Builder General Electric, United States | ||
The New Zealand DH class is a type of diesel-electric heavy transfer/shunting locomotive in New Zealand. The class consists of six heavy shunt U10B type locomotives built by General Electric in the United States in 1978. Five of the class are used in the Auckland area for heavy shunting duties, including services to the Port of Auckland, while one is based at the Port of Tauranga.
Contents
Introduction
Originally an order for Philippine National Railways, the six locomotives were purchased as by coincidence NZR needed a heavy shunter for Auckland container port transfer work. At the time two DSC class shunters were linked in tandem to perform this task. The DH class are actually a light locomotive which are geared to run at 100 km/h (62 mph). They saw occasional service on the then under-used suburban passenger network, performing well, but NZR focused them on their intended purpose - heavy shunting. In the late 1980s NZR provided a DH unit to the Tasman Pulp and Paper mill in Kawerau to trial for sale as a heavy shunter in the mill's rail yards. The mill turned down the offer, instead purchasing a DA class locomotive to perform duties.
Classification
The class should not be confused with the English Electric DH class of 1956; as all of the old DHs had been reallocated DG in 1968, the classification was re-used.
Other users
The Hedjaz Jordan Railway has three GE U10B locomotives of 1,050 mm (3 ft 5 11⁄32 in) gauge. These are of A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. Another user is the Belgrano Sur Line (Buenos Aires), Argentina.