An illustration considered for, but not used in the new book New Zealand Railway Memorabilia.
The NZR successor, KiwiRail, created controversy a few months ago by proposing replacing these locos used on the NIMT since 1988 with more diesels from China which are cheaper than replacement electrics. NZ Herald article
The obvious thing that it should be doing instead is extending the electrified rails from Te Rapa (just north of Hamilton) up to meet the Auckland suburban system, about 80 km, as well as electrifying the line from from Hamilton to Tauranga. These are the two heavy freight traffic routes. The present government under Steven Joyce wont allow that, but like all matters involving the railways, hope lies in a change of government in 2017.
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