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Tranz Rail DSJ 4004 (Revised)

DSJ 4004 was built by Toshiba of Japan in 1983, as the first member of a class that totalled only five locomotives. She was also the only DSJ to be built as assembled in Japan, while the rest were assembled at Addington Workshops in Christchurch. The locomotive originally served on shunting duties in the South Island, entering service in January 1984.

The DSJ is a bizarre class, partly because of how few of them were built. They were similar to the DSG, but had only 1 engine instead of 2. The class was also shorter at one end, which resulted in the cab being off-centre. In fact, one end of the DSJ is the same length as one DSG bonnet. Because the DSJ's have no second engine, they do not have a radiator grille at one end. Apart from 4004, the DSJ numbers were 4017, 4032, 4045 and 4060.

4004 remained in the International Orange livery until 1999, when she was repainted in the Tranz Rail blue livery. Around the same time, the engine was fitted with shunters' refuges. As far as I know, at least one other DSJ received Tranz Rail blue. This was 4017. Seven years later - in 2006 - DSJ 4004 was unfortunate enough to receive the unsightly Toll Rail livery, alongside classmates 4032 and 4060. She stayed in the livery for just five years, being repainted in the KiwiRail livery in 2011. After the state-owned KiwiRail was launched in July 2008, the locomotive had her Toll logos replaced by KiwiRail stickers.

Today the entire DSJ class is still in service with KiwiRail. 4004 and 4017 are based in the South Island, and they spend most of their time shunting in Picton. This job includes shunting wagons and locomotives on and off the Interislander ferry from Wellington.