Locomotives of New Zealand is a complete list of all locomotive classes that operate or have operated in New Zealand's railway network. It does not include locomotives used on bush tramways.
All New Zealand's main-line locomotives run on a narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm).
Early locomotives The first locomotive in New Zealand was built by Slaughter & Co in Bristol, arrived at Ferrymead in May 1863 to work on Canterbury Provincial Railways' 5 ft 3 in gauge. It was withdrawn in 1876. Lady Barkly, in use on Invercargill's jetty in August 1863 during construction of the Bluff branch, was another early example of a steam locomotive operating in New Zealand.
The first steam engines built in New Zealand were produced in 1872. Fraser and Tinne built an 0-4-0 in Auckland in 1872, but it was based on a Hornsby traction engine. Similarly, a steam crane was converted during construction of the Port Chalmers railway, though it could only haul about 10 tons. The first locomotive entirely built in the country was a engine for the Foxton Tramway contractor, Ashworth Crawshaw, by R. S. Sparrow & Co in Dunedin, also in 1872. It was named Palmerston. Horses had replaced Palmerston by 1874, but, in 1875, after iron had replaced wooden rails, the same branch had an A class steam locomotive built in Wellington by E.W. Mills' Lion Foundry.
Classification details Steam locomotives were originally categorised with just a single letter, such as the "F class". When a new class was built as an enhancement of an old class, the old class's letter was re-used, followed by a superscript upper-case letter. For example, the 1906 A class was followed by the AA and AB classes.
Diesel-electric and electric locomotive classifications originally consisted of an upper-case D or E respectively followed by a second and sometimes a third (sub-class) letter. The second and third letters are sometimes represented as smaller-sized upper case (for example, as seen on many locomotive cab-side number plates).
New classes were not always given the classification that alphabetically followed that of the previous class that had most recently been acquired. For example, the DJ class was followed by the DX class followed by the DF class. If an entire class had been withdrawn from service and the classification no longer in use, it was sometimes re-used; for example, two A classes exist, one from 1873 and one from 1906.
Traffic Monitoring System
Following the introduction of the computer-based Traffic Monitoring System (TMS) and consequent renumbering, classes were identified by the two upper-case letters with the first letter remaining D or E respectively and sub-classes being indicated by a third upper-case letter, such as DAA (DA modified for hump shunting), DAR (DA with rebuilt superstructure), DFT (DF with turbo-conversion), DXR (rebuilt DX) and so on. Most diesel shunting locomotives have a three-letter classification with DS as the first two letters, following on from the original diesel-hydraulic shunting class that was known simply as the DS class.
For electric locomotives the second letter generally referred to where the locomotive was based, such as EC in Christchurch, EO in Otira and EW in Wellington. The EM class in Wellington stands for Electric Motor and the ET stands for Electric Trailer. The DM class units were an exception to this.
Most railcars were classified RM (Rail Motor), and individual classes were known by alternate names such as the Vulcan railcars of the South Island and the Wairarapa railcars that ran over the Rimutaka Incline.
List of locomotive classes
Mainline diesel locomotives
Image Class Numbers Number in class Year(s) introduced Year(s) withdrawn Power output Notes TMS (1979) pre-1979 TMS (1979) pre-1979 DA DA 86–996 1400 – 1545 146 1955–1967 1974 – 1989 The largest locomotive number class in New Zealand, 85 were rebuilt as the DC class, five as DAA class and one as DAR class. DB DB 1001–1180 1000 – 1016 17 1965–1966 1980 – 1989 Ten were rebuilt as the DBR class. DBR 1199–1295 10 1980–1982 2002 – 2017 Rebuilt DB with a new cab, lower hood and new engine. DC DC 4006–4951 1551 – 1599 85 1978–1983 1992 – present Rebuilt DA with a new cab and low hood and appears in two engine types, one with 12-645C engines and the other with 12-645E engines. DCP 4277–4945 17 2002–2009 2015–present DC subclass originally built for passenger services, but now used for other uses. DF (1954) 1500 – 1510 (1954) 1300 – 1309 (1960) 10 1954 1972–1975 NZs first mainline diesel locomotive. DF DF (1979) 6006–6317 1651 – 1670 30 1979–1981 All rebuilt to DFTs DFB 7010–7348 21 2006–present Still in use Upgraded DFT class locomotive ('B' for Brightstar) DFM 7036–7226 3 All reclassified as DFT internally Upgraded DFT class locomotive ('M' for Maxitrax). DFT 7008–7348 30 1992–1997 2011–present Rebuilt DF, with 21 later converted to DFBs ('T' for turbocharged). DG DG 2007–2468 750 – 791 42 1955–1956 1983 11 were rebuilt from the 1956 DH class. DH (1956) 766, 772, 777 – 783 11 1956 1968 All were later reclassified as DGs DI DI 1808–1843 1100 – 1104 5 1966 1988–1989 DJ DJ 3009–3689 1200 – 1263 64 1968–1969 1986 – 1991 Five in service with Dunedin Railways DL 9008–9688 73 2010–2023 Still in use DM 8012- 66 2025 Under order from Stadler Rail. Two arrived October 2024 for testing and commissioning. First unit entered service on 21 July 2025. DQ 6007 -6036, 6324 – 6416 15 1996–1998 1998 – 2013 Rebuilt QR class; originally from Queensland Railways. DX DX 5016–5520 2600 – 2648 48 1972–1975 All Rebuilt as DXC & DXB Two rebuilt as DXR. DXB 5016 – 5166, 5448 14 still in use Upgraded DX class ('B' for Brightstar). DXC 5172 – 5520 5039 32 still in use DX class upgraded for the Midland Line coal trains ('C' for chute). DXH 0 All rebuilt as DXB and DXC Upgraded from DX DXR 8007, 8022 2 1993, 2006 still in use Rebuilt From DX QR 2027 – 2102, 3032 25 1997 1999 Originally from Queensland Railways; 15 rebuilt as the DQ class.
Diesel shunting locomotives Image Class Numbers Number in class Year(s) introduced Year(s) withdrawn Power output Notes TMS (1980) pre-1980 TMS (1980) pre-1980 DAA DAA 11–63 1400 – 1404, 1406 5 1971 1989 DA class refitted for low speed running for heavy shunting at Te Rapa. DAR 517 1 1989 2008 DA class modified for shunting at Tasman Pulp and Paper. DE DE 1308–1458 501 – 515 15 1952 1984–1989 DH DH 2816–2868 900 – 905 6 1978 Still in use DS DS 200–215 16 1949–1955 1978–1984 DSA DSA 1953–1967 DSB DSB 1003–1290 300–327 28 1954–1967 1978–1988 DSC DSC 2000–2759 400 – 469 70 1959–1967 1989–present DSG 3005–3304 24 1981–1983 still in use Shunting locomotive. DSJ 4004–4060 5 1984–1985 still in use TR TR 90 1924–1978 Six distinct build models of various power, wheel set and body. EB 1809, 1815, 1821 3 1976–1980 Used for internal workshop movements. Rebuilt in 1953 from the EB Battery-electric loco.
Electric locomotives Image Class Numbers Number in class Year(s) introduced Year(s) withdrawn Voltage Power output Notes TMS (1980) pre-1980 TMS (1980) pre-1980 EO EA 39–74 1 – 5 5 1968, 2008 1997, 2011 1500 V DC overhead Originally classified EA, 1980 reclassified as EO. Used Otira-Arthurs Pass section, three returned to Wellington suburban service in 2008. Final withdrawal 2011. EC 7–12 6 1928–1929 1970 1500 V DC overhead Used on Christchurch-Lyttelton line. ED ED 15, 21 101–110 10 1938 1969–1981 1500 V DC overhead Used on Wellington suburban network. EF 30007–30249 22 1986–1988 1991–present 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead Originally Class 30, reclassified as EF class. Used on the NIMT between Palmerston North and Hamilton. EO 2–6 5 1923 1968 1500 V DC overhead Used on Otira-Arthurs Pass section. Replaced by EA class (later reclassified as EO). EW EW 107–171 1800 – 1806 7 1952 1988 1500 V DC overhead Used on Wellington suburban network.
Battery electric locomotives Image Class Numbers Number in class Year(s) introduced Year(s) withdrawn Power output Notes TMS (1980) pre-1980 TMS (1980) pre-1980 E 1 1923 1930 Used for maintenance in the Otira Tunnel. EB 25–29 5 1925–1929 1976–1980 Used for internal workshop movements. Rebuilt in 1953 to diesel electric power.
Electric multiple units Wellington electric multiple units operate on 1500 V DC overhead. Auckland's electric multiple units run on 25 kV AC overhead.
Image Class Number in class Location In service Formation Passenger capacity Notes DM/D 49 Wellington 1938–2012 D – DM (two-car) D – DM – D (three-car) 132 (two-car) 204 (three-car) 6 sets preserved in museum or private use. EM/ET 44 Wellington 1982–2016 EM – ET 148 One refurbished set preserved at Canterbury Railway Society; one Tranz Metro Blue set preserved by Wellington Heritage Multiple Unit Trust FP/FT 83 Wellington 2010–present FP – FT 147 Named Matangi, after the Māori word for "wind". AM 95 Auckland 2014–present AMP – AMT – AMA 230
Railcars Livery: The first railcars were painted "carnation red" with a white or yellow stripe. The Silver Fern railcars appeared in stainless steel.
All railcars, unless otherwise stated, are designated RM class. Here, they are classified under their common names.
Image Class Number in class In service Power type Passenger capacity Notes 88-seater 35 1955–1978 Diesel-mechanical 88 Alternatively known as Fiats, Eighty-Eights, or Twinset railcars. After withdrawal, 14 were converted to locomotive-hauled AC class articulated carriages known as "Grassgrubs" due to their green colour. Silver Fern 3 1972–2019 Diesel-electric 96 Auckland – Wellington service, 1972–1991. Geyserland Express, Kaimai Express and Waikato Connection 1991–2001; used for excursions until 2019. Now withdrawn. Standard 6 1938–1972 Diesel-mechanical 48–52 Preserved examples exist at Silver Stream Railway (Wellington), Glenbrook Vintage Railway (Auckland) and Pahiatua Railcar Society (near Palmerston North). Vulcan 9 1940–1978 Diesel-mechanical 48–50Examples are preserved at Ferrymead Railway, Christchurch (3 of) and Plains Railway, Ashburton (1 of). Wairarapa 7 1936–1956 Diesel-mechanical 25–49The remaining example is currently being restored by Pahiatua Railcar Society (near Palmerston North).
Experimental railcars included the following:
Image Class Number in class In service Power type Passenger capacity Notes MccEwan-Pratt petrol railcar 1 1912–1913 Petrol 12 Never in revenue service. Not preserved. Clayton steam railcar 1 1926–1937 Coal Originally worked the Kurow branch, and later in Otago and Southland. Not preserved. Edison battery-electric railcar 1 1926–1934 Electric (battery) 60 seated, 70 total. Used on Little River branch. Destroyed by fire. Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar 1 1925–1931 Coal 48 Used on Melling and then Thames branches. Not preserved. Leyland experimental petrol railcar 1 1925 Petrol Never entered revenue service. Model T Ford railcar 2 1925–1931 Petrol 11 plus driver Operated on Greytown branch and in Southland. A replica operates on the Pleasant Point Railway, near Timaru. Leyland diesel railbus 2 1936–1942 Diesel 19 or 8 plus 1 ton of newspapers. Served on Midland Line and the west coast. None preserved.
Diesel multiple units Image Class Number in class In service Formation Passenger capacity Notes ADK/ADB 9 1993–2014 ADK – ADB 134 Ex Transperth, used on Auckland suburban network. None preserved. ADL/ADC 10 1993–2022 ADL – ADC 128 Ex Transperth, used on Auckland suburban network.
Steam locomotives Livery: New Zealand steam locomotives after the late 1920s were mainly completely black with red buffer beams at each end. Earlier steam locomotives were more varied in colour with polished brasswork and a contrasting lining on the cab sides and side tanks, for example the green of the F class Peveril.