Northern Explorer to Wellington is powered by DFB 1760 through Puhinui in Auckland's southern suburbs. The DFB is a rebuilt DF class introduced from 1979. This train has a licensed cafe and panorama window carriages (built by Hillside workshops in Dunedin.) There is an unusual open window carriage (converted caboose) at the rear for those who really want to experience the journey!
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.