NZR DI class

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The DI class locomotive was a class of diesel-electric locomotive in New Zealand. They were built by English Electric Australia. The class is very similar to the Queensland Rail 1620 Class. At the time of their introduction, the class was seen as an alternative to the DB class for use on lightly-laid secondary and branch lines, however the introduction of the DJ class in 1968 ensured that no further DI class locomotives were purchased by the Railways Department.

Three members of the class originally operated in the South Island, mainly on the Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton, while the other two members started life in the North Island. In 1969, all members were transferred to work in the Bay of Plenty area on the lightly-laid track there. After the Kaimai Tunnel opened in 1978, all five members were transferred to the South Island for service in the Dunedin area. The remained there until 1984 - 1985, when they went north to Wellington and Napier. In their latter days the DI class was used mainly for shunting duties.

In 1988, three members of the class were written off following accidents. The remaining two locomotives were withdrawn by 1989, following the conversion of the DSC class shunting locomotives to right-hand control.

One member of the class, Di 1102 (1820) has been preserved by the Diesel Traction Group at Ferrymead.

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TMS number	Original number	Entered service	Withdrawn	Notes
1808	1100	, 1966	, 1988	Written off in 1988 after flashover in main generator. Dismantled at Hutt Workshops in 1991.
1814	1101	, 1966	, 1988
1820	1102	, 1966	, 1989	Preserved by Diesel Traction Group in Christchurch. Currently under overhaul.
1837	1103	, 1966	, 1988	Written off and scrapped in 1988 after throwing a conrod.
1843	1104	, 1966	, 1988	Written off and scrapped in 1988 after being damaged in a level crossing accident near Otaki.

Rail vehicles of New Zealand

Battery electric locomotives		E - EB
Diesel locomotives		DA (inc. DAA, DAR) - DB (inc. DBR) - DC (inc. DCP) - DE - DF (English Electric) - DF (General Motors) inc. DFT - DG (inc. DH of 1956) - DH of 1978 - DI - DJ - DL - DQ (inc. QR) - DS - DSA - DSB - DSC - DSG - DSJ - DX (inc. DXB, DXC and DXR) - TR
Diesel Multiple Units		ADK (inc. ADB trailers) - ADL (inc. ADC trailers)
Electric locomotives		EA (later EO of 1968) - EC - ED - EF - EO of 1923 - EW
Electric Multiple Units		DM (inc. D trailers) - EM (inc. ET trailers) - "Matangi" FP (inc. FT trailers)
Railcars		RM class railcars: 88 seater (also known as Fiats or twinsets) - Clayton steam railcar - Edison battery-electric railcar - Leyland diesel railbus - Leyland experimental petrol railcar - MacEwan-Pratt petrol railcar - Model T Ford railcar - Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar - Silver Fern - Standard - Thomas Transmission - Vulcan - Wairarapa - Westinghouse Non-RM class railcar: A 88 Buckhurst petrol carriage
Steam locomotives		A of 1873 - A of 1906 (inc. Ad) - A^A - A^B - B of 1874 - B of 1899 - B^A - B^B - B^C - C of 1873 - C of 1930 - D of 1874 - D of 1929 - E of 1872-75 - E of 1906 - F - F^A (inc. F^B) - G of 1874 - G Garratt of 1928 (inc. Pacific rebuild) - H - J of 1874 - J of 1939 - J^A - J^B - K of 1877 - K of 1932 - K^A - K^B - L - L^A - M - N - N^A - N^C - O - O^A - O^B - O^C - P of 1876 - P of 1885 - Q of 1878 - Q of 1901 - R - S - T - U - U^A - U^B - U^C - U^D - V - W - W^A - W^AB (inc. W^S) - W^B - W^D - W^E - W^F - W^G - W^H - W^J - W^W - X - Y
Locomotive hauled carriages		50-foot carriage - 56-foot carriage - ex-British Rail Mark 2 carriage- AK carriage - FM class guards van
See also: Locomotives of New Zealand; Motive power explanation; Multiple units and Railcars descriptions.