This is a fairly simple question that I have been pondering for a week or so now:
I have seen photos of Da's and Db's (and EE Df's, too, I think...) - North Island locomotives - in Dunedin for overhaul at Hillside. I'm guessing that they ran south from Picton down the SIMT. So What I'm wondering is, did any Dx locomotives ever run in the South Island before they were transferred south after the NIMT electrification, either to Hillside for overhaul, or for other reasons?
Cheers,
G-J
I'm not aware of any DXs being overhauled at Hillside. A couple of DAs and DBs were rebuilt at Hillside in the early 80s and have seen pictures of EE DFs that went south for work, but no DCs and DXs until the very late 80s. I have a pic of the first DC that was towed to Dunedin in 1988 from memory for a Hillside open day, but the train was late and it promptly returned north to Chch (they were on coal train service then). Hillside was busy re-engining DJs and trying to keep the DGs running (and recabbing a few) in the late 70s/early 80s as well as building wagons.
The South Island did have DBRs 1282 and 1295 in 81/82 for trials.
There was a DX go in to Hill side and come out with a new cote of paint (bumble bee) what ells was done I don't now but it was in the railfan mag.
