Queensland Locomotives
In 1861 the first railway proposal was to build a wooden railed horse-hauled tramway from Ipswich to Toowoomba. The project was never to eventuate, however it was eventually replaced with a true railway plan. In 1863 engineer Abram Fitzgibbon offered the Queensland Government a narrow gauge railway as a radical engineering solution to the financial problem of building a railway network.
Construction began on the first section of the railway from Ipswich to Grandchester (Bigges Camp) in February 1864. Nearly everything the railway needed to operate - staff, locomotives and carriages - were imported from Britain. Because of its vast area, Queensland adopted a decentralised network, with railways being built from a number of ports along the Queensland coastline that led inland to mining and pastoral centres.
What Locomotive Is That?
Steam - Queensland
PB 15 class
The Queensland Railways PB15 class is a 4-6-0 steam locomotivr operated by the Queensland Railways.The design resulted from a need for more powerful engines for passenger trains. The PB15 Class engine was designed by Locomotive Engineer, Henry Horniblow and LW Piggott. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the PB15 class engine, P representing they were a passenger locomotive, the B that they had three driving axles and the 15 the cylinder diameter in inches. The PB15 engines were in essence identical to the B15 class engine.
The first of the 233 PB15 engines was delivered by Walkers Limited, Maryborough in December 1899. The last PB 15 was delivered in 1926. The last locomotive to operate on the main line was withdrawn in April 1970. Five examples of these engines have been preserved:
444 is on display at the Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich; 448 is operational on the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway, Swanbank and has been named in preservation RV Armstrong after the society's late founding member; 454 is undergoing a major overhaul at the Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria; 732 is in storage at the Workshops Rail Museum, one of the 1924 Walschaert type engines; 738 is on display at the Rosewood Railway Museum, Rosewood.
Australian Standard Garrat
The Australian Standard Garratt (ASG) locomotive was designed by the Commonwealth Land Transport Board. The ASG was to be a suitable narrow gauge locomotive aimed at easing a chronic shortage of motive power on the various state 3’6" gauge systems, which was a result of the advent of World War 2.
Sixty-five ASG locos were built in 1943–44 by railway workshops in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, and by Clyde Engineering in Sydney. Most of the locos operated in Queensland and Western Australia. Queensland Railways purchased 23. One was never used and another saw only two months service. In September 1945, the drivers' union placed a ban on them. Attempts to modify them proved unsuccessful, and they were written off in 1948. Three were sold to the Emu Bay Railway and six to the Tasmanian Government Railways, with the remainder scrapped in 1954/55.
BB18¼ class
The Queensland Railways BB18¼ class locomotive was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways. The first 35 BB18¼ class locomotives were built by the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, England in 1950/51. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the BB18¼ class, BB representing they had three driving axles, and the 18¼ the cylinder diameter in inches. A further 20 built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough between 1955 and 1958. No. 1089 was the last steam engine placed into service on a mainline Australian railway.
The BB18¼ class locomotive is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways. They were an improved version of the B18¼ class. Engines constructed by Walkers Limited used electricity for the light on the rear of the tender, for side lamps and to illuminate the motion. All were fitted with roller bearings and chime whistles. The Vulcan built engines were painted hawthorn green when introduced, the Walkers built examples in a brighter green.
55 of this class were built, Six have been preserved: 1037 by the Mackay Heritage Railway; 1072 by the Zig Zag Railway, Lithgow, New South Wales; 1077 at the Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton as no 1015; 1079 by Queensland Rail at the Workshops Rail Museum; 1086 by the Mackay Heritage Railway; 1089 by Queensland Rail at the Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich.
DD17 class
The Queensland Railways DD17 class locomotive was a 4-6-4T steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways. It is an improved version of the earlier Queensland D17 locomotive. With the D16 and D17 class locomotives becoming life expired, between 1948 and 1952, twelve DD17s were built at North Ipswich Railway Workshops. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the DD17 class, D representing they were a tank locomotive, and the 17 the cylinder diameter in inches.
The first tank engine was painted black with red lining. The next five tanks were painted blue and the last six engines midway blue. They operated suburban passenger trains in Brisbane out of Mayne depot, mostly on the northside. They also operated freight trains in the off-peaks. Four examples have been preserved: three by the NSW Zig Zag Ralway; 1051 is currently undergoing overhaul and is part of the Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet, based at the Workshops Rail Museum.
C17 class
The Queensland Railways C17 was a class of 4-8-0 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways. The C17 class was introduced as an improved version of the C16 class. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the C17 class, C representing they had four driving axles, and 17 representing the cylinder diameter in inches. The design was so successful that 227 locomotives were built from 1920 when the first engine Nº 15 entering service through until 1953 when Nº 1000 was delivered. The Commonwealth Railways NM class were of the same design.
They were used to haul Mail trains on lines could not accommodate heavier B18¼ class, also suburban passenger, mixed, goods and branch line trains. Until 1948 they were the heaviest engines that could work north of Mackay. Prior to the introduction of 60 long tons (67 short tons; 61 t) diesel electric locomotives, they were responsible for hauling the air-conditioned Inlander, Midlander and Westlander trains for parts of their respective journeys. Twenty-five have been preserved (see "Read More" link below for details).
Diesel - Queensland
1150 Class
The 1150 class diesel locomotive was built by GE Transportation and A Goninan & Co for Queensland Railways between 1952 and 1956.The 1150 class were the first mainline diesels purchased by Queensland Railways. Ten hooded locomotives built by GE Transportation, Erie, Pennsylvania in 1952/53. They were initially numbered 1210–1219. In 1956 they were renumbered as the 1300 class.
In 1962, 1306 became the first diesel locomotive in Queensland to log 1 million miles. In 1965, they were again renumbered as the 1150 class. They were initially used in the Darling Downs region to haul wheat, then on the North Coast line and the Western line. In the 1980s, the six remaining units were based at Townsville. The first unit was withdrawn in 1975 with the final six withdrawn in 1987. Two units have been preserved: 1150 is being restored by the Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division at Townsville; 1159 is retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division at North Ipswich.
1270 Class
The 1270 class were diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1964 and 1966. The 1270 class was devised by English Electric engineer Stan Lyons, based on the body design of North American road switcher but using the same engine and generator as the 1250 class. The first 12 units had the same English Electric 525 traction motors as the 1250 class. The remaining units had improved English Electric 548 traction motors with a slightly higher tractive effort. The final six units had dynamic brakes.
In 1965, 1281 was named Century and painted in a commemorative gold and white livery to mark the centenary of the first railway in Queensland. The 1270 class were displaced from coal traffic with the electrification of coalfields lines from 1986. All were withdrawn between 1987 and 1989. Two units were retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division and the remainder were scrapped.
1720 Class
The 1720 class are a class of diesel locomotives built between 1966 and 1970 by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways in Australia. The 1720 class were an evolution of the 1700 class. They operated throughout Queensland on branchline freight, suburban and mainline passenger services and on shunting duties.
Later they were modified for driver only operation receiving a larger windscreen. Of the 56 locomotives, some have been exported, although the majority as at January 2014 remain in service. Unit 1741 was acquired for preservation by the Queensland Diesel Restoration Group in October 2016
2170 Class
The Queensland Railways 2170 class diesel-electric locomotive was built between 1982 and 1984 by Clyde Engineering at Comeng's Rocklea plant for Queensland Rail. Most have been sold for further use overseas with seventeen going to South Africa and twelve to Ferronor in Chile. The class family consists of the 2100, 2130, 2150 and 2170 classes. It formed the mainstay of Queensland Rail's coal haulage from the opening of the Goonyella line until electrification in the late 1980s.
The 2170 class was an evolution of the 2150 class. It differed from the earlier class mainly by having modified traction motors, Dash 2 modular electrical cabinets and air-conditioned cabs. The locomotives were built by Clyde Engineering at Comeng's Rocklea plant between 1982 and 1984. Many of the 2170 class were sold by Aurizon between 2013 and 2016.
2470 Class
The 2470 class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1980 and 1983. The 2470 class were an evolution of the 2450 class. They differed in having lighter alternators and smaller fuel tanks. A 2470 class was built by Clyde Engineering for the Townsville Harbour Board, this was later sold to Queensland Rail and renumbered as 2507.
38 locomotives were built; between 2000 and 2002, six were rebuilt as 2300 class locomotives at Redbank Railway Workshops.
GT42CU AC
The GT42CU AC is a model of diesel electric locomotives manufactured by EDi Rail, Maryborough between 1999 and 2005 under licence from Electro-Motive Diesel, for use on narrow gauge railways in Queensland. In March 1998, Queensland Rail ordered 38 GT42CU ACs from Clyde Engineering They were the first locomotives ordered from Clyde Engineering after its takeover by Evans Deakin Industries and were built at the latter's Maryborough factory.62 were built.
They are primarily used on the Blackwater and Moura coal networks, and on phosphate trains between Mount Isa and Townsville. All were included in the transfer of Queensland Rail's freight business to QR National in July 2010.
Siemens E40 AG-V1
The Siemens E40 AG-V1 is a type of electric locomotive built by Siemens Mobility for use in Queensland. The design is based on the Queensland Railways 3700 class electric locomotive, rebuilt by UGL Rail from older locomotives using Siemens components. The engine room layout is similar to the 3700 class and the majority of the electrical components are identical.
All 100 locomotives are used on trains on the Queensland coal network. In March 2006, Queensland Rail awarded a contract for the supply of 20 Class 3800 narrow gauge electric locomotives. In August 2007, the order was increased to 45. In July 2010, these passed into the ownership of QR National.