Subscribe to download
Tranz Rail Black DSJ 4017 (Revised)

DSJ 4017 is the 2nd member of her class, which comprises just five locomotives. The DSJ class was built between 1983 and 1985 by the Japanese company Toshiba. Curiously only DSJ 4004 - the class leader - was built and assembled in Japan, while the remaining four - including 4017 - were assembled at Addington Workshops in Christchurch.

4017 first entered service in December 1984, and has spent most of her time running in the South Island. Like the similar DSG class, the DSJ's are designed and used primarily to shunt wagons in the yards. Despite this, they can and sometimes do run short trip workings out on the mainline. An example of which is the shunt from Napier to Hastings, which is normally run by DSG's.

As with the other four DSJ's, 4017 was first painted in the International Orange livery. This was replaced by Tranz Rail blue in 1998. Around the same time, the whole DSJ class was fitted with shunters' refuges. These are small extensions to the frame at both ends of the locomotive, which allow the driver to control the locomotive outside of the cab by means of a remote control set.

DSJ 4017 didn't stay in Tranz Rail blue for long, which is why pictures of her in this livery are hard to come by. In March 2003, the locomotive became one of two DSJ's to receive Tranz Rail Black, which is often nicknamed 'Bumble Bee' by enthusiasts (for obvious reasons). Thankfully 4017 never received the unsightly Toll Rail livery, and remained in TR black until March 2010. This was when the locomotive was repainted in the KiwiRail livery.

Today DSJ 4017 is still in service with KiwiRail. She is normally used to shunt wagons in the yard at Picton, which is appropriate given the town's association with Rolling Line.