Bumble-Bee (livery)

DFT 7145 in "bumble bee" livery. Photo by Joseph Christianson.

Bumble-Bee is an informal term describing a New Zealand railway locomotive livery (resulting from the combination of black and yellow in the colour scheme) found in common usage amongst the railfan community.

The livery, first introduced in 2001 to promote level crossing safety, was initially trialled on Tranz Rail locomotive DC 4323 (photo), and over time was applied to numerous other locomotive classes up until the time that Toll introduced its own livery.

Only six DCs, two DSCs, three EFs and one TR are still wearing this livery while in service.

Variations

Three locomotives had been repainted in variations of this livery. DSC 2678 was repainted in the livery, but with a red stripe running down the sides of its hoods. DSG 3251 was repainted in the Otago colours of blue and yellow instead of black and yellow. TR 874 was repainted in this livery, but in reverse with a black cab and yellow hoods. Only DSC 2678 still wears a variation of the Bumble-Bee livery.

Locomotives to receive the Bumble Bee livery

DC class:

• 4012 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 4058 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 4185
• 4300
• 4317 - now stored at Hutt Workshops
• 4323 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 4398 - now sold to Progress Rail and currently stored at Hutt Workshops
• 4421
• 4438 - now stored at Hillside Workshops
• 4473 - now stored at Hillside Workshops
• 4565
• 4726 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 4847
• 4853

DCP class:

• 4450 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and stored at Hutt Workshops

DFB class:

• 7158 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 7160 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 7200 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery

DFT class:

• 7008 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery
• 7049 - now stored at Hutt Workshops
• 7077 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery and stored at Hutt Workshops
• 7145 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 7226 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 7282 - now stored at Hutt Workshops
• 7295 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery

DH class:

• 2822 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery

DSC class:

• 2419 - now in the KiwiRail livery
• 2678
• 2746

DSG class:

• 3020 - now in the KiwiRail livery
• 3114 - now in the KiwiRail livery
• 3236 - now in the KiwiRail livery
• 3251 - now in the KiwiRail livery

DSJ class:

• 4017 - now in the KiwiRail livery
• 4045 - now in the KiwiRail livery

DXB class:

• 5166 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery

DXC class:

• 5039 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 1 livery
• 5195 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5229 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5327 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5402 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5419 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5425 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5500 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5517 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 5520 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery

EF class:

• 30013
• 30042
• 30071

TR class:

• 724 - now preserved by the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society
• 874 - now in the KiwiRail Phase 2 livery
• 908

See also

• List of NZ railfan jargon