Locomotive DA11
Maker and role
General Motors (EMD), Manufacturer
Production date
1955
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1985.1
Maker
Production period
Description
Locomotive DA11 (ex DA1400) diesel electric, 70 tonnes, 1335 BHP. Built by General Motors in Canada in 1955. White roof, white railings, red body. Yellow and black design which includes stripes on front and back.
Built in 1955 at General Motors (EMD), Canada. Imported 12/08/1955 at Auckland Port (Unloaded from SS Port Pirie. Loaded at Newport News, Virginia, USA 10/07/1955). In service September 1955 (livery:NZGR Carnation/Midland Red, with White strips). Reclassified in 1971 from DA1400 to DAA1400 and subsequently renumbered to DA11 in 1978. Written off November 1983 at The Strand, Auckland and acquired by MOTAT.
Built in 1955 at General Motors (EMD), Canada. Imported 12/08/1955 at Auckland Port (Unloaded from SS Port Pirie. Loaded at Newport News, Virginia, USA 10/07/1955). In service September 1955 (livery:NZGR Carnation/Midland Red, with White strips). Reclassified in 1971 from DA1400 to DAA1400 and subsequently renumbered to DA11 in 1978. Written off November 1983 at The Strand, Auckland and acquired by MOTAT.
Brief History
Da 1400 was the first Da in an order of 30 from the U.S.A. and Canada for New Zealand Railways. It entered service in August 1955. The Da’s replaced the aging K class steam locomotives, and brought New Zealand into the diesel age. They again increased speed and productivity on the railways, moving freight and people faster and more efficiently. The Da’s worked on the Main Trunk Line, and most other lines throughout the North Island. The fleet of Da’s grew to 146 engines. This increased efficiency led to a down-sizing of the New Zealand Railways operations, which had previously relied on steam. This period also saw a downturn in the use of rail transport in New Zealand, as car ownership and air travel came within the reach of ordinary New Zealanders. Da1400 worked the mainline from 1951 to 1970, and was then used as a heavy shunting loco at Te Rapa near Hamilton, before coming to MOTAT in 1984. It is one of four of the original batch of Da’s to survive. All ‘Da’s were withdrawn in 1988. Other Da's were upgraded and coverted to Dc class locomotives and a few are still in service by KiwiRail.
Marks
DA / 1400 Maker's Plate
1400 Painted
1400 Painted
Media/Materials
Credit Line
General Motors (EMD). 1955. Locomotive DA11, 1985.1. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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