Dear KiwiRail,

Becuase I know this is a state-owned enterprise and not many assets do go to preservation-wise, but since I am well aware DX 5051 is going to preservation, another candidate will also join the ranks, DC 4012 will be one of four DC's sidelined for preservation by the time of retirement from Kiwirail or the final four to be retired overall or one of only four to go to preservation.

4012 is currently in talks with Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand in the stages and the planned home has to be kept discret but it will likely be a Rail Society in the North Island,

4012 the former DC 1552 ex DA 1532 plays a vital role being the first of two rebuilt DC's unloaded of the Hikata in Wellington in March of 1978 along with DC 4006 former Dc 1551 ex 1525 which was also scrapped after her incident on Westmere Bank in 2001.

4012's career has been a long run and her retirement will be a send off before she is gifted to preservation, but between me and you, she won't be sold for scrap or sold overseas because the engine is the grandmother of the Dc fleet one of the originals.

Her legacy will play an important role once she is withdrawn from her role in The South Island, so she will under RHTNZ be gifted to a rail society once she is retired from service.

But we can't say which society will get it but that's to be discreet information and under RHTNZ,
But I can say she is to be one of the final four DC's to go to preservation upon withdrawal.
With the last Hutt Build Dc 4951 also joining the ranks of heritage preservation.
The other two I will keep discreed about as it's neither my buisness to explain the numbers as it's between you and me and RHTNZ.

Yours faithfully,

Colby James.