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Mainline Steam DSG 3087

This reskin is based on the blue livery carried by DSC 2759, which was based at the Mainline Steam depot in Plimmerton. In August 2020, the locomotive was sold to the Gisborne City Vintage Railway. Because Rolling Line hasn't got a DSC model, I went and gave this reskin the number of a DSG.

DSG 3087, she was built by Toshiba in 1982 and entered service in March of that year. She was the 9th member of a 24-strong class, all of which were designed for shunting. The DSG's replaced the vast majority of the old 4 and 6-wheel shunting locomotives (such as the TR and DSA classes) that had been in service since the 1940's and 50's. Unlike the older engines, the DSG's were bogie locomotives. These are not as rough-riding as the TR and DSA classes, who's wheels are incapable of turning with the track.

Anyway, DSG 3087 was initially based in the South Island, more specifically the city of Christchurch. She was originally painted in the now-classic International Orange livery. In 1997, DSG 3087 left the South Island and went to Hutt Workshops in Wellington. While there, the engine was repainted in Tranz Rail blue and fitted with shunter's refuges. Following the repaint, 3087 was sent back to the South Island on the Interislander ferry.

After several years of running in the South Island's numerous yards, DSG 3087 started looking absolutely filthy. It was a combination of rust and general grime. In 2010, the locomotive was sent to Hillside Workshops in Dunedin for a much-needed repaint.

Today DSG 3087 now carries the KiwiRail livery, and is still going strong at 38 years old. The locomotive is still being used in the South Island.

As for DSC 2759, very little is known about her history. She was built by New Zealand Railways at their Hillside Workshops in 1967. 2759 was actually the last of her 70-strong class to be built, and was originally numbered as DSC 469. One thing worthy of mention is that the first 18 DSC's were built in England by British Thompson-Huston, while the remaining 52 were built in New Zealand. Another thing is that the DSC class do not have radiator grilles at each end, whereas the DSG's have grilles on both ends.

DSC 469 was re-numbered as DSC 2759 in 1978, as part of the introduction of the Traffic Monitoring System. As for where she worked over the years, I have been able to find a photograph of her at Taumarunui and another one in Wellington. So that leads me to believe that 2759 has been a North Island engine throughout her life.

The engine was deemed surplus to requirements by Tranz Rail in 2002. Fortunately Mr. Ian Welch of Mainline Steam trust fame purchased DSC 2759 for preservation. Today the locomotive is based at MLS' Wellington depot, which is located in the suburb of Plimmerton.