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KiwiRail Rotary Plow

What if New Zealand had one of these snow plows? That was the logic behind this reskin.

This livery is loosely based on that carried by three members of the EO class (45, 51 and 74). These engines were first built in 1968, and ran over the electrified section of the Midland Line between Otira and Arthur's Pass, which included the notorious Otira Tunnel. This section was de-electrified in 1997, and the EO's were retired.

However, in 2008 EO's 45, 51 and 74 were refurbished and repainted. Then they were put to work and helped out on commuter trains in Wellington. This was only a temporary measure until the Matangi units arrived.

Now that the Matangi fleet is in service, the EO's are not. The engines were tired from Wellington service in 2011, and EO's 39, 51, 68 and 74 were scrapped 2013. 39 and 68 were only used as spare parts donor engines. Today EO 45 is the only survivor, and she has since returned to the South Island. Now she is at the Ferrymead Railway in Christchurch, but isn't operational - despite the railway being electrified.