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KiwiRail DXC 5362

(This is a what-if situation. In this case, what if DX 5362 was never rebuilt as DXR 8007?).

DX 5362 started life as DX 2633. She was built in 1976 by General Electric, entering service in April 1976. She was only two years old when - in 1978 - the locomotive was renumbered as DX 5362.

Sadly 5362 suffered a cracked frame in 1989, and was sent to Hutt Workshops in Wellington. After languishing at Hutt for four years, the engine was used as the prototype for the DXR conversion programme. This was a scheme to - eventually - rebuild all of the DX class with a more powerful diesel engine (3,300 horsepower), upgraded traction motors and a new cab design.

Due to the higher-than-expected cost, DX 5362 - now rebuilt as DXR 8007 - would remain a curious one-off. Interestingly DX 5310 was modified with a DXR-style long hood in 2001, but never received the same 'universal cab' as 8007.

DXR 8007 finally gained a 'sister' in 2005, when DX 5235 - after a few years of rebuilding - emerged from the workshops as DXR 8022. There were a few minor differences between the two engines; 8022's cab had a more boxy shape than 8007, but the first DXR was soon modified to have the same cab as her younger sister.

DXR's 8007 and 8022 were running in the North Island up until around 2012. Back in those days the two engines were often used on services to Tauranga, and I still have fond memories of seeing the two engines at Mount Maunganui. Heck, there was even one time when I got to drive DXR 8022 in the yard.

Nowadays the two DXR's are based in the South Island, and they spend most of their time running back-and-forth between Christchurch and Picton (the northern part of that route being original Rolling Line territory). Fortunately I saw both 8007 and 8022 when I was last in Christchurch, and that was in November 2018.