New Zealand DQ and QR class locomotives

The DQ and QR class were a class of diesel locomotives in New Zealand and Tasmania, Australia. Originally built by Clyde Engineering in the 1960s as Queensland Rail 1460 and 1502 class locomotives, they were purchased by Tranz Rail in 1995 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new locomotives. Introduction Between March and September 1995, New Zealand Rail (renamed Tranz Rail in October 1995) purchased twenty-one 1460 and four 1502 class locomotives from Queensland Rail with the intention of rebuilding them for service in New Zealand. Seven 1460 and one 1502 class arrived in Auckland on 12 September 1995, and were later hauled to Hutt Workshops in Wellington. The second batch followed on the inter-island rail ferry , which was returning from Brisbane after a heavy engineering inspection, with twelve 1460 and three 1502 class locomotives. This batch arrived in Wellington on 23 May 1997. The last batch arrived on 25 June 1997, which consisted of two locomotives that were decided to be left behind on the second batch due to mechanical reasons. This batch arrived on the MV Lauriegracht. Tranz Rail split them into two classes. The DQ class were rebuilt with a new cab and low nose and painted in the Cato Blue livery, with dynamic brakes, a computerised control system and rebuilt engine. The QR class were overhauled with auto-transition couplings and were also repainted in the Cato Blue livery, and were only used as trailing locomotives as they were not fitted with the safety equipment required to lead trains. The 1460s were originally planned to be reclassified as the DQC class, while the 1502s were planned to be reclassified as the DQF class. The classifications were later dropped. The first locomotive, DQ15215 (ex-1521), underwent mainline testing from September to October 1996. 15215 was a temporary number that combined the Queensland number with a TMS check digit. It was soon renumbered as DQ6007, and released into revenue service in October 1996. The locomotive was unofficially named "The Platypus". Those rebuilt from 1502 class locomotives received 60XX numbers and those from 1460 class received 63XX numbers. This was done to differentiate the different power output of class members. 6007 had a horizontal mounted headlight and numbers below the headlight assembly on the front wall of the cab, while the rest had vertical mounted headlights and numbers on either side of the headlight assembly.