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Ashburton Donkey DSG 3005

This re-skin is based on a unique variant of Tranz Rail blue, worn only by one locomotive. Said locomotive is DSC 2502, and she is used by KiwiRail as a shunter in either Christchurch or Ashburton. In fact some people call her the ‘Ashburton Donkey’, hence the title of this re-skin. Due to the DSG model differing in a few ways from the real-life DSC 2502, some details have been omitted on this re-skin.

DSC 2502 was built in 1964 by NZR’s own Hillside Workshops. Her original number was 445, and she didn’t receive her current number until 1978. Throughout her early years the engine was painted in standard NZR red, which - by 1988 - had been replaced by International Orange (better known as Fruit Salad).

The engine was fitted with shunter’s refuges sometime around 1996 or 1997. These are small extensions to the frame at both ends of the locomotive, and they allow a driver to operate the locomotive by remote control without having to stand in the cab. As well as shunter’s refuges, 2502 was also fitted with a double-lens headlight (replacing the original single-lens).

Over the years 2502 hasn’t really ventured away from the South Island Main Trunk, and is often used around Dunedin, Ashburton and Christchurch. The most recent picture of 2502 I could find showed her sitting in a yard in Dunedin, not far from her place of construction - Hillside Workshops.

Because there isn’t a DSC model in Rolling Line, I had to use the DSG model instead, and - consequently - give it a DSG number. No - despite what the tag says - it’s not an accurate DSJ model. That’s because if this was going to be a true DSJ, it would need to have a radiator grille at only one end and have an off-centre cab. The model has neither, and looks more like a DSG than anything else. Anyway, here’s some information on the DSG who’s number is on this re-skin.

DSG 3005 was built by Toshiba in 1981. She was one of a 24-strong class of twin-engine/centre-cab shunting locomotives, and first entered service in March 1981. The DSG was - and still is - used to shunt wagons in yards all over New Zealand. Sometimes they can be seen hauling short trip-workings on the mainline, such as the shunt from Napier to Hastings or Smart Road to Port Taranaki (New Plymouth). Some technical specifications of a DSG are as follows:

Cylinders - 16 (8 per engine)
Engine Type - two Cummins KTA-1150L
Length - 13.5 metres
Power Output - 940 horsepower
Top speed - 60 km/h
Tractive Effort - 29,000 lb
Weight - 56 tonnes

DSG 3005 ran in the International Orange livery for the first 12 years of its service, being repainted in New Zealand Rail blue in October 1993. In September 1997, the NZ Rail logo was replaced by Tranz Rail. At the same time the locomotive was fitted with shunter's refuges. She stayed in Tranz Rail blue until 2011, when she was repainted in the KiwiRail livery. She is still in service today, and will soon be 40 years old.

In real life I have seen DSG 3005 at least four times, first in the Napier area in November 2016 (and again in January 2017) then the third time was at Palmerston North in July 2019. More recently - in September 2020 - I came across DSG 3005 again when she was hauling the S63 shunt in New Plymouth.