Diesel Traction Group

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The Diesel Traction Group is a Christchurch based operator of 5 classic English Electric diesel locomotives. www.dtg.co.nz Df 1501: Built 1954, Under Overhaul.

in New Zealand, dedicated to the running and restoration of some of New Zealand's first generation of diesel electric locomotives. The fleet:

De 511: Built 1952, Operational Condition. De 512/1429: Built 1952, Operational Condition. Dg 772: Built 1956, Mainline Certified, Operational. Di 1102: Built 1966, Mainline Certified, Operational.

26/10/2026

English Electric returns to Marlborough! ⚡

Last week, Di 1102 was transferred to Blenheim by our good friends at Steam Incorporated who are leasing the locomotive from us, to work the Marlborough Flyer cruise ship trains operated by Pounamu Tourism Group and other excursions. Tuesday 20th October saw a hook and tow north behind DC 4375, with a brief stop at our close friends at the Weka Pass Railway to collect the fleet of wooden carriages. During the week, our staff trained up one fitter & four drivers from Steam Inc to prepare and operate the locomotive independently, before the first cruise ship train of the season on Saturday 24th October from Picton to Seddon & return. 🚂

Here are some photographs by DTG photographer Bobby Boulton, who was on hand to record this history in the making. This is the first time Di 1102 has ventured north of Scargill since restoration and also the first restored DTG locomotive to venture north of Kaikoura. We are stoked to have the locomotive away with our friends and we hope the team at Steam Incorporated enjoys their time operating the Di on their trains! 🤝

Di 1102 is heading to Kaikoura over Canterbury show weekend on Sunday 15th November, this is a perfect chance to have the rare opportunity to ride behind our classic 1966 built locomotive. But... don't worry! There are plenty of chances to book a journey with 1102 this summer, with more trips planned to Seddon, Kekerengu & Kaikoura over the summer months! ☀️

Visit Steam Incorporated's website to book a journey behind our red shiny locomotive here: https://steaminc.org.nz/

24/10/2026

Today, Di 1102 ran it’s first Marlborough Flyer cruise ship train for the 2026/2027 season while on loan to our friends at Steam Incorporated for the summer.

We are very happy with how the locomotive has performed over the steep grades of Elevation and Dashwood these last few days and we are stoked to have the Di in trusted hands, have fun with the loco boys! 😎🤝🚂

Di 1102 will be heading to Kaikōura on Sunday 15th November as part of Steam Inc’s ‘Kaikōura Rail Rendezvous’ over Canterbury show weekend, you book this journey ex-Blenheim here: https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/krr/

23/10/2026

Di driver training 🤝

This week has seen our team training Steam Incorporated’s locomotive engineers and fitter staff, to prepare and operate Di 1102 while it is on loan this summer for their Marlborough operations! 🚂

We love it seeing the Steam Inc team enjoying the experience of operating our locomotive and we look forward to seeing it put to use over the hilly terrain of Marlborough this summer! 😎

Book a journey behind Di 1102 by visiting Steam Incorporated’s website here: https://steaminc.org.nz

20/10/2026

A few photos from yesterday’s delivery trip to Blenheim via our friends at the Weka Pass Railway to collect Steam Incorporated’s fleet of carriages for the Marlborough Flyer. 🤝

Upon arrival at Spring Creek, Di 1102 was started up and used for some late night shunting, first time the sound of an English Electric locomotive had been heard in Marlborough since when?…. 👌🏼

The Di will be heading south to Kaikōura during Canterbury show weekend on Sunday 15th November from Blenheim, book this excursion through Steam Incorporated’s website here: https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/krr/

19/10/2026

Some behind the scenes shots over the last couple of days cleaning Di 1102 prior to going on lease to Steam Incorporated, hauling the Marlborough Flyer cruise ship trains out of Picton and excursions out of Blenheim. The new Navman GPS tracking system, endorsed by the HTC was also installed and tested and is now good to go.

Our followers who live in Marlborough and Nelson, this summer is your rare opportunity to take a ride behind some English Electric traction along the Main North Line! Head to Steam Incorporated’s website to see their selection of Di 1102 hauled trips on offer here: https://steaminc.org.nz

19/10/2026

Marlborough here we come! 🚂

After months of hard work by our small team, Di 1102 was collected by Steam Incorporated this afternoon in readiness for it’s journey north to Blenheim this week. For the first time in Diesel Traction Group history, one of our locomotives will operate north of Kaikoura and is also the first time Di 1102 will have ventured north of Scargill since restoration.👌🏼

We are looking forward to having our locomotive on lease to Steam Inc for the summer, having it haul trains along the Kaikōura Coast and working hard up Elevation and through the Dashwood Pass. 🤝

Your first opportunity to ride behind Di 1102 will be on Sunday 15th November from Blenheim to Kaikōura & return, where it will meet a train from Christchurch behind DC 4375, you can book this excursion through Steam Incorporated’s website here: https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/krr/

08/10/2026

Week day motivation 💪🏼

Happy Friday! This week, a handful of our team have been doing odd jobs on Di 1102, getting the locomotive ready before it heads north to Marlborough. An engine oil change was completed and a good clean around the engine room floor. Paint touch ups have also been done and of course giving the loco square key a lick of paint to make it stand out! 👌🏼

Support our work with a tax deductible donation here: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/dtg

02/10/2026

De 511 Night Market Running!!! 🌟

Tomorrow from 4pm until 8pm, De 511 will be running in conjunction with our friends at the Canterbury Railway Society for the Ferrymead Heritage Park night market event. Come along for a ride behind 1952 English Electric traction with some evening views along the Heathcote Estuary! 🚂

25/09/2026

English Electric Summer ⚡ ☀ 🚂

This summer, Di 1102 is heading to Marlborough on loan to our friends at Steam Incorporated to run their series of excursion trains out of Blenheim, and Pounamu Tourism Group's Marlborough Flyer cruise ship trains! 🤝

The locomotive will be hauling excursions to Seddon, Kekerengu & Kaikoura at the head of Steam Incorporated's beautiful fleet of open platform carriages. There are a few excursion options already advertised on their website, check them out here: https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/

All questions regarding these train trips are all done through Steam Incorporated, check out their page or website for more infomation!

Address

Ferrymead Heritage Park
Christchurch

Website

http://www.dtg.co.nz/

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