Subscribe to download
Tasman Mill DXC 5241

(Based on the yellow livery worn by DA 822 (now DAR 517) during her time in Kawerau; 1989 to 1998. As is always the case with my DX re-skins, this one carries the number of a real life DX locomotive; DXC 5241).

(If you have a livery request for me, you may leave it in the comments. However, I will only accept your request if B) I like your idea and a) you word it as a question, preferably without the word 'please' as I find it a bit cringe-worthy. Also, you have to use punctuation, unlike some idiots I've seen who don't use punctuation and still think they can get a request done. You know who you are).

(If you don't get those rules right first time, your request will be denied).

Tasman is a wood pulp and paper mill in the North Island, more specifically the town of Kawerau. It serves at the southern terminus of the East Coast Main Trunk and the northern terminus of the Murupara branch, with trains carrying logs from Murupara and carrying more logs and paper to Mount Maunganui. Consequently there is a substantial yard at Kawerau, which has its own shunting locomotive.

Back in 1989, Tasman was looking for an additional locomotive to use as a shunter. In 1983 they had taken delivery of their first shunter; a Niigata Bo-Bo engine numbered as 2071. The new addition was intended to replace an old Bagnall diesel shunter, which had been modified in the 1970’s with a new diesel engine and torque converter (whatever that means) to make it more powerful. As traffic increased, the Bagnall shunter was getting less and less capable of handling the work.

Originally New Zealand Rail offered a DH (or GE U10B) to Tasman, but they turned it down as they deemed the DH to have insufficient power. At the same time NZR was retiring the last of their DA locomotives (or GMD G12), so they offered DA 512 instead. This locomotive was chosen by Tasman, and sent to Hutt Workshops for conversion to a heavy shunter.

The short-hood was cut down to improve forward visibility, and the locomotive was repainted in a distinctive yellow livery complete with the green ‘Tasman’ logo. She was then sent to Kawerau to commence her new career as a shunter. Unfortunately photographs of the engine in this state are extremely rare, so much so that I’ve only found ONE picture of the former DA 512 in her Tasman condition (and one picture of a model). I should also mention that DA 512 was re-numbered as DA 822 before going to Kawerau.

DA 822 remained in Kawerau until 1998, when Tranz Rail re-acquired her and took over control of the yard. The engine was immediately sent down to Hutt Workshops for further modifications, which saw her being repainted in Tranz Rail blue and being fitted with shunters’ refuges. The latter was meant to cement the engine’s place as a heavy shunter.

During this time, DA 822 was reclassified and renumbered to DAR 517. In 1999 she was sent to Whareroa in Taranaki, where she was used as a shunter at the enormous dairy factory. There she replaced another Bagnall shunter, this time it was DSA 414. Six years after arriving in Whareroa - in 2005 - DAR 517 was repainted in the Toll Rail livery, which worsened her already unattractive looks.

DAR 517 remained in service until 2008, when she was withdrawn for overhaul. The engine was transferred back to Hutt Workshops, but - for reasons unknown - the overhaul never happened. Sadly DAR 517 was scrapped in December 2017.

As for that Niigata engine I mentioned earlier, she’s had better luck. Although she was sent away from Kawerau in 1994, she made it into preservation. After being stored at Mainline Steam’s Parnell (Auckland) depot for several years, she was sold to DBM Contracting in 2015.

After being sold, Niigata 2071 was placed in storage at Pukeoware on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. There she stayed until July 2020. This was when DBM Contracting moved the Niigata engine - along with DSC 2338 - to the Goldfields Railway in Waihi.

On a personal note, I’ve seen the Niigata locomotive on at least three occasions. Two at the GVR (December 4th, 2016 and October 22nd, 2017) and most recently at her new home in Waihi (December 21st, 2020). As for DAR 517, I never got the chance to see her before she was scrapped.