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Tranz Rail DX 5460

(This reskin depicts DX 5460 as she looked in the 2000's)

DX 5460 was built in 1976 by General Electric, and was originally numbered as DX 2644. New Zealand Railways had the 49-strong DX class numbered in the 26xx series as a reference to their power output. They did this for just about all of their diesel locomotive classes at the time. Another example was the DA class, which was numbered between 1400 and 1545. Their power output was 1,425 horsepower.

As with all other 48 class members, the first livery DX 2644 carried was the bright and distinctive Clockwork Orange, which was exclusive to the class. In 1978, the locomotive was renumbered as DX 5460. She carried the Clockwork Orange livery until sometime in the early 1980's. I haven't been able to find any evidence to prove that she actually received International Orange, but it's likely that she did on account of the fact that pretty much every DX received the livery. Sometime in the late 1980's, the entire DX class was modified to have a large one-piece windscreen instead of the smaller two-piece design. This was done in conjunction with the introduction of single-man crewing.

5460 was repainted a 2nd time in May 1995, when she received the New Zealand Rail blue livery. This was almost immediately before New Zealand began its experiment with rail privatisation. The locomotive has spent most of her life in the South Island, and is still there today.

The engine was fitted with the distinctive (and now DXC-exclusive) air intakes - otherwise known as 'chutes' - in the early 2000's. This modification is now carried by all members of the DXC subclass, which is exclusive to the South Island. 5460 had her NZ Rail logo replaced by Tranz Rail in the late 1990's. She remained in Tranz Rail blue right into the late 2000's, and was one of the DX's that were lucky enough to not receive the unsightly Toll Rail livery.

DX 5460 was finally repainted in the KiwiRail livery in August 2009. Now she continues to run in freight service with KiwiRail, but is confined to the South Island. The air intakes she received in the early 2000's are used to assist with crew ventilation in the Otira Tunnel.