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Stanleyville DXB 5068

The engine that we know today as DXB 5068 was built by General Electric in 1972, entering service in November of that year. 5068 was originally numbered as 2605, and started life carrying the distinctive Clockwork Orange livery, which was exclusive to the DX class. In 1978, DX 2605 was re-numbered as DX 5068, as part of the roll-out of the Traffic Monitoring System (or TMS for short). The DX class spent most of their early years running in the North Island, with some class members being transferred to the South Island in the late 1980s. This was due to the electrification of the North Island Main Trunk between Hamilton and Palmerston North, and the introduction of the EF class electric locomotives.

It wasn't until around 2000 that the locomotive was repainted in the Tranz Rail blue livery. Fast forward to December 2009, 5068 was reclassified as a DXB and repainted in the KiwiRail livery. This work was carried out at Hutt Workshops in Wellington. For the next eight years, DXB 5068 remained in the North Island. She was transferred to the South Island in 2017, a direct result of the invasion of the DL class. I ended up seeing 5068 at Christchurch's Middleton Depot in November 2018.

*Now for the fictional part of the engine's history.*

In March 2017, DXB 5068 was part of a group of three DX's sold to the Stanleyville Railway. Upon arriving at the railway, the engine was re-painted in SR purple. Today the locomotive is used to haul passenger trains over the SR's mainline from Stanleyville Forest to Pendletown Junction.