Top 10 Diesel Locomotives of New Zealand

Hello everyone,
I thought I'd try something a little different and make a top 10 diesel locomotives list.
If you don't agree with everything on the list then that's fine, as this is my own personal opinion.
Apologies in advance if some of the footage is bad quality, putting 4 different types of video camera quality into an editing software and saving it causes not all quality to be the same.
5:49 should be Main north line, not Main south line.
Credits:
EF footage and a short clip of a DSC kindly provided by J.T.E Rail Productions.
Most of the videos and photos from this video were taken by myself and are from previous videos on my channel.
Photos of the DH Class do not belong to me and belong to their individual owners as I have not filmed the DH's yet and hope to at some point.
A few other photos including maps and close ups of locomotives are owned by their individual owners.
Thanks for watching :)

[@NZREngine]

Sorry for any errors, EF locomotives are the most powerful locomotive class in NZ with the DL's not far behind, and please correct me on anything else in the comments :)

[@DXR8007NZR]

No, the DX's are. I believe DXR's are the strongest.

[@MBTrainspotting]

@@DXR8007NZR DL's have more horse power 🙂

[@RollestonRails]

True fact​@@MBTrainspotting

[@RollestonRails]

​@DXR8007NZR no they aren't 😂

[@Timmo737]

Good video. Thanks for your efforts. For me, the DX class has always been my favourite but the DC is certainly a close second. I had many a day simply standing on the platforms in Auckland listening to those wonderful subbies.

[@trajan231]

DC engines have running for more than 60 years

[@manunderthemask4762]

I 100 percent agree with this, although i'd swap the DC's for the DXC/DXB/DXR's

[@Blackscorpion1963]

Excellent video! Cannot disagree with the rating/ranking either. As I'm a mainlander [South Island] naturally my favorite loco is the DX/BC. Ultra reliable & powerful.

[@NZREngine]

Cheers!

[@MBTrainspotting]

Would be cool to see an updated version of this 🤔

[@NZREngine]

Once those new locos come the list should be a tad different

[@MBTrainspotting]

@@NZREngine Yes, maybe could do one about preserved diesels? Like the DE,DA,DBR, etc.

[@n.f.railphotography7185]

Nice video. My favourite is the DFB's and second is DC. And congratulations on 200 subs:)

[@NZREngine]

Thanks so much! :P

[@vaughndavis3220]

Thank you for this great video - I've been to NZ 6 times and love it there. I'm a railroad junking here in America and will start using my first rail service for moving commercial good next month! Keep up the great work!

[@malcolmwarena5324]

Awesome video my friend keep up the great work .

[@bentimmy7252]

DSC also in Dunedin, from what I understand there are 2 DSC class used regularly in Christchurch, one to haul passenger cars to Waltham yard and 1 based at Addington wagon repair shop

[@LookForTrains]

Nice video! It is a shame for the North island to have all DL's. I'm based in Chch and I can tell you about the DSC's. DSC 2652 works with the AK wagons in the Waltham depot and does shunting there in it's Cato blue livery. DSC 2718 works at the Addington Depot shunting the repaired wagons. Also on a side note, down here there is the last DC in "Fruit salad" livery, another in Cato blue, and about 2-3 in Bumblebee.

[@NZREngine]

Thanks! And thanks for the info on the DSC'S. I was more reffering to the fact that the Chch DSC's don't shunt the TranzAlpine and the Coastal Pacific. And yes I was aware of the Fruit salad DC and the Cato Blue DC. If I'm correct 4409 is in Fruit salad and 4755 is in Cato Blue.

[@oskiewoskie61]

I regret to tell you but the Fruit Salad DC is out of service and most likely either been sold off or scrapped

[@LookForTrains]

OskieWoskie Yes, about 3 mouths ago 4409 was taken to the hutt and put in the line of DC’s to scrap

[@joje.685]

you've got your self a 200th subscriber, congratulations NZREngine.

[@NZREngine]

Thanks!

[@Jamie-Tane-media]

This was a great idea for a video, The EF, DC, And DX classes have always been my top favorite mainline locos, But have never been able to decide an overall favorite, Looking at this makes me wanna film more EF class locos at some stage as well.

[@NZREngine]

Thanks mate :)

[@geoffschock1181]

B mgmnmhmmmmmmmmmhmmhhmhmghgmhmhmhghgnl

[@marlonwatson3588]

I guess im randomly asking but does anybody know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I love any help you can offer me

[@morganleon159]

@Marlon Watson Instablaster :)

[@marlonwatson3588]

@Morgan Leon Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@SebastianC701]

New Stadler-built DM class diesel locomotives are coming to NZ and also, Kiwirail also planning on buying Stadler-built Eurodual electrodiesel locomotives and Euro9000 electric locomotivies, and Siemens-Built Vectron electric locomotives, when futher parts of rail network (including the lines between Hamiton and Tauranga, between Auckland and Whangarei and in the South Island) gets electrified, as well as the North Island Main Trunk.

[@TheKiwianTrainspotting]

Nice video! My personal list would be: 10: DH 9: DSJ 8: DSC 7: DSG 6: DL 5: DX 4: EF 3: DC 2: DXR 1: DF :-)

[@NZREngine]

Nice! I have subscribed to your channel

[@TheKiwianTrainspotting]

@@NZREngine Thanks! Another video should be coming out soon from around Wellington & the central plateau.

[@SpottingWithSam]

Very nice video Ben, for me the DX’s and DC’s have a very close tie in my mind.

[@NZREngine]

Cheers thanks for watching

[@joje.685]

This video is really cool

[@NZREngine]

Thanks!

[@rikisimeti7955]

This video is awesome! My favourite locomotive is DFB7077 or DFT7064.

[@NZREngine]

Cool! Looking forward to seeing 7064 out of Hutt workshops

[@rikisimeti7955]

@@NZREngine Yeah so do I.

[@C.S.RailPhotography]

sometimes DLs go to the masterton log yards now aswell

[@NZREngine]

Yes. I think at the time I made this video DL's hadn't worked those log trains yet. Can't remember exactly when they started using them as well as DFBs but must've been late 2020/early 2021

[@kiwirailtrains8651]

Definitely DXR #1 for me

[@NZREngine]

Good choice

[@kiwirailtrains8651]

NZREngine thanks

[@wellingtonaviationnz]

Same

[@DXR8007NZR]

DXR 8007 and 8022 are the best

[@beatrueegg2722]

from 2024-2026 at the latest, you will have to adjust the list when the 57 new locomotives arrive from Stadler to start work on the South Island. because of the smaller gauge they will certainly be different in performance than here in Europe. but with CoCo drive they will certainly also have a lot of power.in any case, Stadler Rail knows the problems of inclines and declines, Switzerland and New Zealand are topographically very similar for traffic. even if the locomotives are produced in the Spanish factory, there is a lot of know-how from the main factory in Switzerland in it. i'm curious what the driver's cab will look like then, almost like ours or closer to what your drivers are used to? it's a pity that your network isn't electrified everywhere and that you can buy emission-free electric locomotives.

[@richardbell9939]

DSG s were. Operating in Auckland when they were brand new.

[@liftrailphotographyinnz3992]

Great video, very detailed too, I would’ve let you use some of my footage too if you had asked. 👍🙂

[@NZREngine]

Thanks and yeah I asked Jamie first and he said it was fine.

[@nafcd]

good video but personally i would have been more interested if there was more loco info. hp, where they were made etc.

[@hernanmatias1428]

DFT are really called EMD GT22. We have a lot of them in Argentina and even more powerfull versions called GT26

[@thetrainspoterfromhenderso2269]

Nice

[@DC4260Productions]

The DC's are more than deserving of the No. 1 spot. As dumb as this sounds, if the DC's could sing they'd probably be chanting We Are Number One. Regarding the DH class, I would have been more than happy to lend you some of my clips of DH 2851 if you had asked. And as for my own favourite list, it would go something like this (and I wouldn't restrict it to just diesels): 10 - DL 9 - DSG 8 - WW 7 - DH 6 - DSJ 5 - DXB / DXC / DXR 4 - DFB / DFT 3 - EF 2 - DC 1 - JA

[@NZREngine]

Great list 👍

[@SebastianC701]

I'm guessing that the Eurodual eletrodiesel models will be classified as ED class, not to be confused with the original English Electrics formerly used in Wellington, Euro9000's as EM's and Vectrons as VF's.

[@aadildokrat3656]

Well done fliming the trains at south Auckland

[@blackbird7575]

Dc and dfb my favs

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, my personal favourites are the EF's because #1 they are the most powerful #2 they are great for carbon reduction, to be honest I believe the network should be electrified, between CHCH Auckland and Tauranga That would make a major reduction in the use of carbon based fuels, thanks for sharing

[@alanririkori2184]

the dx class is my fav

[@michaellewis6467]

My list:(ranked worst to best) 1.Dsg 2.Dft 3.Dc 4.Dl 5.Dg 6.Dbr 7.Dxc 8.Dg 9.Dxb 10.Dxr

[@fly_trains3084]

DXR for #1 is my opinon. I have even been in the cab of one.

[@TxtalArmi]

My list: 10: DSJ 9: DSG 8: DX 7: DH 6: DC 5: DX 4: DL 3: DF 2: Matangi 1: AM

[@toasterlover3892]

4. Dx 3. EF 2. DFB 1. DC

[@Sam-747]

The DX class use to be in the 2000s category

[@tigertiger1699]

Great vid.., but for me, have grown up can riding in the 70s.. the DX is unlike any others.., it’s power & sound..., and it’s ride.. as the cab can be thrown around.. ..., you definitely know you’re standing on a beast as punches at speed over typically rough NIMT..👍

[@NZREngine]

Cheers, thanks for watching

[@aucklandtrainsvlogs2901]

Nice video man! But why do the DSG class do not operate in Auckland?

[@NZREngine]

DH and DC classes carry out the heavy shunt duties around the city there

[@DXR8007NZR]

At the time of this comment, 4006 does not exist. So 4012 - 4951 is more up to date.

[@samsgamingcorner9836]

How come the older DFs have bigger front windows while the newer ones have smaller windows?

[@neilahsouthon6538]

The guy just chilling

[@nikogrant-fargie5571]

you know abit this is a cool video I liked and subed

[@peterscandlyn]

Late to the party but really enjoyed this. You seem to have some knowledge of train numbers. Is this knowledge publicly available please? Good work there!

[@NZREngine]

Yes you can find Train timetables with North and South Island train numbers on the New Zealand Locomotives Facebook group

[@peterscandlyn]

@@NZREngine Thanks for that info :-)

[@KiwiRailSpotter]

Haha nice

[@NZREngine]

Thanks! :P

[@cliffleigh7450]

Good video, but disappointing that you can't hear the sound of the locos at work with their different types of engines.

[@NZREngine]

If you want to hear these locos at work feel free to watch any of my other videos, which have no narration and have great sounds of these locos at work :)

[@DXR8007NZR]

Aren’t DXR’s the strongest because 8007 can haul lots of carriages by itself aswell as 8022.

[@RollestonRails]

No mate any can pull what the DXRs on the coastal 😅

[@DXR8007NZR]

@@RollestonRails nah, the DXR is the strongest in the DX class. I have done research. No questions asked.

[@RollestonRails]

@@DXR8007NZR ok mate if you say so

[@RollestonRails]

@@DXR8007NZR but they aren't the most powerful and can't pull as much as the DL or EF

[@Toddgillilandfan]

How much railroads are there in new zeland

[@NZREngine]

KiwiRail own all of New Zealand's network atm

[@IxtimmiboRT1427]

DCs are my number 1. I wish they only pulled passenger trains.

[@ak74lol]

My top 3 are 3rd:DL 2nd:DSJ 1st:DX Why does I write this eh?

[@KiwiRailSpotter]

No.1 can and only will be DC 😂

[@NZREngine]

Hehe yeah

[@grunta101]

No Stats??? HP, Tractive effort etc... WTF???

[@NZREngine]

Yeah woops if I made this video now I would haha

[@yashasingh6068]

Dls should be passenger trains

[@RollestonRails]

Not allowed and too low speed...

[@yashasingh6068]

I went on the transalpine

[@danielchalk9931]

Di

[@beachmum8769]

This video is So cool