The first General Electric diesel locomotives ever acquired by New Zealand Railways, and the most powerful machines ever used on NZR tracks, entered service in November 1972. Following a decision of the Government Railways Industrial Tribunal disallowing the enginemen's claim for rates of pay based on the horsepower under their control, but granting drivers of the new D~x class locomotives a special allowance of 15 cents an hour, crew training and running-in on light duties began first at Auckland's Westfield depot and shortly afterwards at Te Rapa, Taumarunui, Palmerston North, and Wellington. D~X2614 arrived at the Wellington depot on 9 November 1972.
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