NZR DS class

New Zealand DS class
Type and origin Power type Diesel-Mechanical/Hydraulic Builder Vulcan Foundry and Drewry Car Co Build date 1955
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR 0-6-0 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Performance figures Maximum speed 40 km/h (25 mph)
Career Operators NZGR, New Zealand Railways Corporation Number in class 16 Numbers Road numbers: 200 - 215 First run 1949 Disposition Withdraw 1978 - 1984, seven preserved.

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-Mechanical/Hydraulic
Builder	Vulcan Foundry and Drewry Car Co
Build date	1955

Specifications
Configuration:	​
• AAR	0-6-0
Gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Performance figures
Maximum speed	40 km/h (25 mph)

Career
Operators	NZGR, New Zealand Railways Corporation
Number in class	16
Numbers	Road numbers: 200 - 215
First run	1949
Disposition	Withdraw 1978 - 1984, seven preserved.

The New Zealand D^S class is a class of 16 diesel shunting locomotives built by the Vulcan Foundry and supplied by the Drewry Car Co from 1949—1955.

In the late 1940s, New Zealand Railways was looking for a more powerful type of diesel shunting locomotive to work in the Wellington railway yards. They had trialled a number of T^R class shunting locomotives, none at the time were suitable with the most powerful being the five T^R class 0-4-0DM shunting locomotives built by the Drewry Car Company/Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn in 1950, which produced 153 horse power. However, these were too small for the large Wellington yards, where a more powerful locomotive would be needed.

In 1948, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of four Drewry 0-6-0DM shunting locomotives based on the Class 04 shunting locomotives being built for British Railways. These locomotives, TGR class V, were powered by a Gardner 8L3 diesel engine producing 204h.p, and weighed 25.6t. These locomotives were of a standard Drewry design, but built by English Electric at their Vulcan Works. A similar diesel locomotive had been built for the Ohai Railway Board in Southland, makers N^O 2248/D68 of 1947.

The first batch of four Drewry 0-6-0DM D^S class locomotives arrived in Wellington in 1949 for evaluation. They were allocated the numbers D^S 205 - 208, with D^S 205 and D^S 206 entering service in August of that year, while D^S 207 and D^S 208 entered service in September 1949. All four locomotives were put to work in the Wellington railway yards immediately after their entrance into service.

Despite some teething troubles, the initial four locomotives were sufficiently capable of performing the work required. The Railways Department was pleased with the results, and in 1953 ordered seven more locomotives, of Drewry type 'A-1'. At 26½ tons, the new arrivals were slightly heavier than the original four units, which weighed 25.5 tons. However, the locomotives were fitted with Westinghouse air-brakes, which were more powerful than the original locomotive brakes.

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Wikipedia