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The NZR English Electric DF class was the first class of mainline diesel-electric locomotives built for New Zealand's national railway network. It should not be confused with General Motors Electro-Motive Division DF class of 1979. Manufactured in 1954 by English Electric, they had a wheel arrangement of (2'Co)(Co'2) under the UIC classification system, generated 1120 kW (1500 hp) of power, and could achieve a speed of 97 km/h. They started the process of displacing steam motive power from main lines in New Zealand, but were soon displaced themselves by the DA class of 1955.
Initially, 31 DF locomotives were ordered, but this order was amended to 10 DFs and 42 DG locomotives. The DG class in appearance was essentially half a DF. The DF locomotives were lighter than the DAs and were used to haul freight trains on lines in Northland and the Bay of Plenty from which the DAs were prohibited. Their only trips to the South Island were to visit Dunedin for maintenance. Unfortunately, the DFs were plagued by unreliability and often had to undergo repairs. This contributed to their short lifespan; withdrawal began in 1972 and the last was withdrawn in June 1975.
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