Farewell to the DFT's?

DFT 7145 waits at Woodville for a crew change before heading into the 'bay' on the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line (PNGL). 26/06/07. Please Note: This photo was taken with the permission and under the supervision of the train crew.

Well, work, family and study haven't let up. I just can't seem to get out the door and chase a few of kiwi rails finest at work here in East Otago.
So I've decided to dig into the archives and bring out a few shots from the past.

Over on steel ribbons, the best New Zealand railway blog in my humble opinion (check it out on the links), Andrew has predicted the demise of the DFT class locos within the next few years. The DFT's have been great servants for Kiwi Rail and have done their fair share of hard yards on the Main South Line.

So here's a few shots of the DFT class at work across NZ, mainly on the  North Auckland Line (NAL) and in East Otago on the MSL.

DFT 7051 leads a 'coalie' south through Pukekohe. 12/10/05.

'Bumblebee' DFT 7282 sits in the loop at Waitakere waiting for a break in the suburban traffic before heading south to Westfield yard. 07/09/06.

DFT 7160 climbs out of Helensville on the MSL. 08/09/06.

 DFT 7160 cruises south through Kumeu on the NAL with a train of logs. 08/09/06.

DFT 7335 with an unidentified sibling rest at Auckland's, Westfield yard. 22/03/08.

DFT 7077 leads 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight along the coast near Shag Point on the East Otago coast. 19/04/10.

With DFT 7199 in the lead, 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight climbs out of Merton. 22/04/10.

DFT 7008 in Kiwi Rail livery cruises through Merton on the main with 923 freight. 14/05/10.

DFT 7023 cruises into Merton with a short 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight. 28/09/10.

DFT 7117 with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight enters the main at Merton for a crew change and crossing with DFT 7023 on 922 Middleton - Dunedin freight. Soon the Timaru and Dunedin LE's will begin their journeys home. 28/09/10.

DFT 7023 with DC 4755 lead 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight across the Shag river bridge just south of Bushey. 02/10/10.

 And that's about it...