Subscribe to download
Toll Rail DSG 3046

DSG 3046 was built by Toshiba in 1981, and arrived in New Zealand in March of that year. She was the fifth engine to be built in a class of 24, which was designed primarily for heavy shunting. Despite this, the DSG class has been known to venture out to the mainline on short distance trip workings. An example is the shunt from Napier to Hastings, which is currently being hauled by DSG 3005 at the time of uploading.

And now back to the history of DSG 3046. As with the rest of the class, the engine was turned out in the International Orange livery when she was brand-new. Originally the entire DSG class was built without shunters' refuges, which are little frame extensions that allow the driver to stand outside the cab and operate the locomotive by means of a remote control unit. DSG 3046 received her refuges in June 1996. Around the same time, the engine was repainted in Tranz Rail blue.

It wasn't until December 2004 when 3046 was repainted again. This time she became the only member of her class to receive the Toll Rail livery. Thankfully the DSG couldn't have the ugly curved stripes that are normally on Toll Rail engines. This was due to having radiator grilles at both ends. Annoyingly I've only been able to find ONE photograph of DSG 3046 in the Toll Rail livery.

KiwiRail was launched on July 1st, 2008. This is a state-owned rail company that took over from Toll Rail. By 2009, DSG 3046 had had her TR logo's replaced by KiwiRail stickers. She stayed in this condition until June 2011, when she was repainted in the KiwiRail livery.

As far as I know, DSG 3046 has spent most of the last 10 years shunting at the ferry terminal in Wellington yard. The only time I saw her in person was in January 2017.