Diesel train marks Normandy campaign

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 548, 9 August 1994, Page 10

Diesel train marks Normandy campaign

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the return of the Allied armies to 'Fortress Europe' in 1994, Steam Incorporated of Paekakariki is running an excursion train, the Rangitikei Daylight Limited, from Wellington to Waiouru next Sunday (14 August) where a special exhibition associated with the D-Day landings and subsequent campaign in Normandy is on display at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum. The train will be hauled by a restored Da locomotive - Steam Incorporated' s Da 1431 - making its first appearance in its original NZR colours. This locomotive is the only one remaining of eight special high-speed locomotives built in Australia for New Zealand Railways though a total of about 150 standard Da locomotives were built. Bob Norling, President of Main Trunk Rail Ohakune outlines the history of the Da locomotive: The diesel Da locomotive was introduced by NZR in the fifties. They provided the fastest land transport by far between Wellington and Auckland at that time. The train ran the 425 mile (684km) journey in a scheduled 15 hours 30 minutes southbound and 15 hours 48 minutes northbound, with an average speed of over 40mph. While the maximum official speed was between 50 to 55mph (80-89km/h) they ran faster in control sections. These "high wheeler" expresses were either the Express Goods or the Daylight Limited running during the holiday periods and were well supported by the travelling public at that time. The Daylight Limited Expresses were usually eight carriages or more in length. Single headed Da's could haul a 500-tonne freight train at these speeds, while the double headed Da' s hauled over 1000-tonne freight loads effortlessly. The Da' s were not as fast on the "high iron" as the Steam Ka or J locomotives but for sheer pulling ability, and through not stopping for water, they were unequalled by any other New Zealand locomotive up to that time. These diesel-eletric locomotives had a power dynamic braking system by reversing the DC component in their traction motors which gave them a big advantage on heavy freight trains enabling them to be brought smoothly to a stop by keeping the couplings taut while the motor was still generating power. This gave rail travelling passengers a very smooth stopping and starting ride which prevented the spillage of tea while leaving a railway refreshment stop. Steam Incorporated and Main Trunk Rail Ohakune will be re-creating this Daylight Limited Express travelling from Wellington next Sunday 14 August, visiting the Army Museum at Waiouru to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Allied Armies campaign in Normandy. This will possibly be the last chance to see and photograph this train in its original colours. Although about 150 of these locomotives were built worldwide only eight were fitted with a special "high speed bogies" configuration by General Motors Ltd Australia and by Clyde Engineering in Sydney. The train will be stopping in Ohakune for lunch while the locomotive is turned on Main Trunk Rail Ohakune' s recently restored turntable for its return journey to Wellington. This will provide an opportunity for people to see the MTRO turntable in operation. Main Trunk Rail Ohakune in conjunction with Steam Incorporated invite residents to join the train at Waiouru for a ride to Ohakune and back at a cost of $18 for adults and $9 for children. For tickets and further information see separate advertisement this issue.