Post by nikkortorokkor on Sept 23, 2008 23:38:09 GMT -5
NZR DE504
The Driver's Cab
This is the last New Zealand railways DE still in service.
Built by English Electric in Preston, England, the DEs went into service with New Zealand Rail in 1951 and '52 as shunting engines. They also saw service pulling commuter units in Auckland and Wellington and, in 1953, 2 were coupled together to pull the royal train for Queen Elizabeth II's 1st Royal Visit to NZ.
DE504 was written off in 1989 and preserved by the Taieri Gorge Railway, which operates from Dunedin's rather grand railway station, running through a spectacular gorge (canyon) to Middlemarch, some 80km (50 miles) away.
Photos were made with a 1958 Super Paxette Automatic and Enna Braun - Lithagon SLK f3.5/35mm lens on Fuji 200 print.
The top photo was digital darkroomed with the Gimp to correct the contrasty conditions.