Bumble-Bee was an informal term, promoted by the editors of NZ Railfan magazine, describing a New Zealand railway locomotive livery (resulting from the combination of black and yellow in the colour scheme) found in common usage amongst the railfan community.

The livery, first introduced on 31 May 2001 to promote level crossing safety to replace the Cato Blue livery and was initially trialed on Tranz Rail locomotive DC4323, and over time was applied to numerous other locomotive classes up until 5 May 2004, when Toll NZ took over Tranz Rail, and introduced the Corn-Cob livery.

The first four locomotives that were painted in the livery, including DC4323 and DFT7160, received the livery with the Tranz Rail "winged" logo. DC4185, DX5166 and EF30071 never received branding when they were repainted in the livery. DC4185 did not receive branding either when it was repainted, but the sloping block letters were later applied to the loco.

Variations

A few locomotives had been repainted in variations of this livery: DSC2678 was repainted in the livery, but with a red stripe running down the sides of its hoods, which are the colours of Canterbury. DSG3251 was repainted in the Otago colours of blue and yellow instead of black and yellow, with "TR" block letters on the logo hood, and a bumble-bee version of the Tranz Rail winged logo on the cab. TR874 was repainted in this livery, but in reverse with a black cab and yellow hoods, with a bumble-bee version of the Tranz Rail winged logo also painted on the long hood. This variation was called by many rail enthusiasts as the "Wasp" livery. Although not an official variation, DC4421 and DC4853 have received KiwiRail stickers on the front of the short-hood, and on the back of the long-hood.

Locomotives that wore/wear the Bumble Bee livery DC class: 4012 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 4058 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 4185 - now stored at Hutt Workshops 4300 - now scrapped 4317 - now scrapped 4323 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 4398 - now scrapped 4421 - now stored at Hutt Workshops, Lower Hutt 4438 - now stored at Hillside Workshops 4450 - repainted in the KiwiRail Bold livery and now scrapped 4473 - now stored at Hillside Workshops 4565 - now scrapped 4726 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 4847 - now stored in Middleton Yard, Christchurch 4853

DF class: 7008 - now in the KiwiFruit livery 7049 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7077 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7145 - repainted in the KiwiRail Bold livery and is now under overhaul 7158 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7160 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7200 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7226 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7282 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 7295 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery

DH class: 2822 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery

DSC class: 2419 - now in the KiwiRail livery 2678 2746 - now in the KiwiRail livery

DSG class: 3020 - repainted in the KiwiRail livery and is now under overhaul 3114 - now in the KiwiRail livery 3236 - now in the KiwiRail livery 3251 - now in the KiwiRail livery

DSJ class: 4017 - now in the KiwiRail livery 4045 - now in the KiwiRail livery

DX class: 5039 - now in the KiwiFruit livery 5166 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5195 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5229 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5327 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5402 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5419 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5425 - now in theKiwiRail Bold livery 5500 - repainted in the KiwiRail Bold livery and now stored at Hutt Workshops as a chassis 5517 - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery 5520 (and as 5045) - now in the KiwiRail Bold livery

EF class: 30013 30042 30071

TR class: 724 - now preserved by the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society 874 - now in the KiwiRail livery 908 - now in the KiwiRail livery

Gallery

See also List of NZ railfan jargon

References