Some nice looking locomotives, with very good specifications, arguably the best new rail traction in NZ since the DX's arrived however many years ago that was. More than 10 years ago I used to commute from Ellerslie into the the city and back and sometimes they had old Silver Fern rail cars on that service, they had Caterpillar engines and while they were long past the point where they needed some new rings, they still ran really smoothly. All those many years later they were still providing good service. I rode those cars when they were on and did so with some pride, as my uncle had some significant part in their specification and procurement, while he was long gone, those Silver Fern rail cars were still rolling. I'm sure he would have liked that.
The horn sounds a bit soft. Needs some grunt, unless it was just the 'peep' button and not the full blast. The engines sound quiet though. May differ with a 2000+ tonne train in tow though.
I don't understand why they can't just be fitted with Leslie horns like the existing GM locos. AFAIK they are still being made, and if not those then Nathan who are the world's largest locomotive air horn manufacturer.
The DMs are now in testing for Kiwirail. They look epic. However their horn is a little off for a New Zealand locomotive. These two are fresh from Spain.
Business like and good looking. A pity they weren’t made in NZ. Still thats our successive Governments since 1984. Promise jobs then send all the contracts overseas. 😢
Mainline diesel locomotives have never been built in New Zealand. KiwiRail does not have the capability or capacity to design and build locomotives such as the DMs economically or in a reasonable timeframe
@@simonwood6932 Locomotives could definitely be made in NZ at Hillside. Although at this stage; it would take some investment in money and time to train up a skilled labour force. When Kiwirail ordered these in 2019-2020; they needed them ASAP, so clearly building them in NZ was not an option. The Labour government in 2008 were intending to build a class called the DK’s at Hillside, when they still had the workforce there, and even had designs finalised. But with the change of government; the National party decided that they would not much fund the recently formed Kiwirail, and instead bought a similar design, the DL’s from thr Dailan plant in China. We all know how that worked-out…
@@alex97594 obsessed with trains i get excited very easily sometimes yelling at the top of my lungs at the sight of a train 😃😃😃😃 i try to contain my excitement when filming every train
The irony of seeing these in this shot under the powerlines in the background ! Why on earth they never electrified at the very least the main north line after the Kaikoura earthquakes is beyond me they then could have looked at the "Eurodual" locomotives as an option. I suppose at least they are finally upgrading the fleet to something modern.
The fact that installing electrification would be horrendously expensive is why on earth, along with the fact that the line has very low traffic and no long stretches of steep gradient to justify electrification is why on earth. So it would never pay itself off is why on earth. And overhead electrical supply requires ongoing maintenance is why on earth. There are many many better things than railway funding could be spent on (such as these very locomotives) is why on earth.
How much would it cost to get NZ rail lines up to the standard to match the higher overseas' rail line axle load ratings? The EuroDual locomotive's axle load starts from 19 metric tonnes through to 21 metric tonnes (Total locomotive weight is 114 to 126 metric tonnes). Most of NZ's rail lines are rated for a maximum axle load of 18 metric tonnes (some branch lines less) so the EuroDual locomotive for NZ might require a non-standard 7 axle setup or 8 axle (use 4 x 2 axle drives) or carrying electrical equipment in an 'electrical energy storage/ battery' wagon like Aurizon are developing in Australia, though lithium could cause problems. The DM locomotive blurb sheet has "
@ I expect it would cost hundreds of millions. How about worry about getting rail traffic higher again to justify such an upgrade? And why bother with dual locomotives when only some of the NIMT is electrified? The way things are going; there’s going to be more locomotives than what is needed. NZ’s rail network is highly under-utilised and nowhere near its capacity. The only busy line is the ECMT, and even then; most of it is single track. So much more freight in NZ could be shifted by railways, and NZ’s manufacturing and processing is struggling due to high electricity prices.
Some nice looking locomotives, with very good specifications, arguably the best new rail traction in NZ since the DX's arrived however many years ago that was.
More than 10 years ago I used to commute from Ellerslie into the the city and back and sometimes they had old Silver Fern rail cars on that service, they had Caterpillar engines and while they were long past the point where they needed some new rings, they still ran really smoothly. All those many years later they were still providing good service. I rode those cars when they were on and did so with some pride, as my uncle had some significant part in their specification and procurement, while he was long gone, those Silver Fern rail cars were still rolling. I'm sure he would have liked that.
Hopefully they dont replace the two DXR locos, they are one of my favorites.
2:51 horn sound
What an exciting development this is.
Nice vid. The DX's have been stunning for 50+years but yeah time for some new stuff. These locos look the biz.
Those DMs are HUGE. Even longer than the EFs!
KiwiRail might have to sort out the horn, it doesn’t sound like what motorists and pedestrians expect!
I hope they put these new locos under the wires to see what they can do. It's funny to see them without bumpers and with knuckle couplers.
The horn sounds a bit soft. Needs some grunt, unless it was just the 'peep' button and not the full blast. The engines sound quiet though. May differ with a 2000+ tonne train in tow though.
They are ero locos they sound polite. Hopefully they will get a more bullsy horn upgrade
I don't understand why they can't just be fitted with Leslie horns like the existing GM locos. AFAIK they are still being made, and if not those then Nathan who are the world's largest locomotive air horn manufacturer.
The DMs are now in testing for Kiwirail. They look epic. However their horn is a little off for a New Zealand locomotive. These two are fresh from Spain.
Business like and good looking. A pity they weren’t made in NZ. Still thats our successive Governments since 1984. Promise jobs then send all the contracts overseas. 😢
Mainline diesel locomotives have never been built in New Zealand. KiwiRail does not have the capability or capacity to design and build locomotives such as the DMs economically or in a reasonable timeframe
@@simonwood6932 Locomotives could definitely be made in NZ at Hillside. Although at this stage; it would take some investment in money and time to train up a skilled labour force. When Kiwirail ordered these in 2019-2020; they needed them ASAP, so clearly building them in NZ was not an option.
The Labour government in 2008 were intending to build a class called the DK’s at Hillside, when they still had the workforce there, and even had designs finalised. But with the change of government; the National party decided that they would not much fund the recently formed Kiwirail, and instead bought a similar design, the DL’s from thr Dailan plant in China. We all know how that worked-out…
now it feels like we're getting somewhere
I heard they are headed for Ōtira for tunnel trials.
It is Dxc 5391 but it shows as dm but it not even the dm loco
I really hope that Kiwi Rail upgrade the horn because it sounds rubbish
What were those sounds at 3:35 mate?? Having a bit of fun?
@@liftslayhater01 Just excited because i was first to witness The Dm's moving under their own power and hearing the horn for the first time
@@NZRT5068 Were ya having a wank mate?
@@NZRT5068 If you're not a little bit excited you're watching the wrong video ;-)
@@alex97594 obsessed with trains i get excited very easily sometimes yelling at the top of my lungs at the sight of a train 😃😃😃😃 i try to contain my excitement when filming every train
That is just a depot horn, surely.
Man, those things are UGLY! At least they haven’t broken down…yet.
Do these engines use def fluid as well being European origins
The irony of seeing these in this shot under the powerlines in the background ! Why on earth they never electrified at the very least the main north line after the Kaikoura earthquakes is beyond me they then could have looked at the "Eurodual" locomotives as an option. I suppose at least they are finally upgrading the fleet to something modern.
Not enough trains per day to justify the cost of building and maintaining the electrification infrastructure
The fact that installing electrification would be horrendously expensive is why on earth, along with the fact that the line has very low traffic and no long stretches of steep gradient to justify electrification is why on earth. So it would never pay itself off is why on earth. And overhead electrical supply requires ongoing maintenance is why on earth.
There are many many better things than railway funding could be spent on (such as these very locomotives) is why on earth.
How much would it cost to get NZ rail lines up to the standard to match the higher overseas' rail line axle load ratings? The EuroDual locomotive's axle load starts from 19 metric tonnes through to 21 metric tonnes (Total locomotive weight is 114 to 126 metric tonnes). Most of NZ's rail lines are rated for a maximum axle load of 18 metric tonnes (some branch lines less) so the EuroDual locomotive for NZ might require a non-standard 7 axle setup or 8 axle (use 4 x 2 axle drives) or carrying electrical equipment in an 'electrical energy storage/ battery' wagon like Aurizon are developing in Australia, though lithium could cause problems. The DM locomotive blurb sheet has "
@ I expect it would cost hundreds of millions.
How about worry about getting rail traffic higher again to justify such an upgrade? And why bother with dual locomotives when only some of the NIMT is electrified? The way things are going; there’s going to be more locomotives than what is needed. NZ’s rail network is highly under-utilised and nowhere near its capacity. The only busy line is the ECMT, and even then; most of it is single track. So much more freight in NZ could be shifted by railways, and NZ’s manufacturing and processing is struggling due to high electricity prices.
They've got tinny horns. Just those horrible Chinese thingies.
Where were the new locos built?
Stadler Valencia (Formerly Vossloh) in Spain. The engines are Caterpillar C175s, built in I think Indiana.
These are European locomotives from Stadler. They kinda look like dog bones though