Between 1864 and 1958, Queensland Railways ordered 47 types of locomotives for purposes such as freight, passenger and mail train use.
Classification
Until 1889, each of the isolated sections of the Queensland Railways adopted its own locomotive numbering system. With the impending joining of most of the sections, in 1890 a new centralised classification system was adopted to eliminate duplications. Locomotives on the Southern & Western Railway retained their existing numbers, with locomotives on other networks renumbered where there was a duplication.
The classification system consisted of a letter, indicating the number of driving axles, followed by a number, indicating the cylinder diameter in inches and factions of inches. This was confusing for two reasons: it differed from the international system. it could lead to several classes having the same classification number.
Where classification numbers were duplicated, the classes were usually distinguished by the name of the builder, e.g. A10 Baldwin, A10 Fairlie, A10 Neilson.
In the case of tank locomotives, the number of driving wheels was added as a prefix, e.g. the 6D16 class had six driving wheels. With all four wheel tank locomotives, the prefix was dropped, thus the 6D16 class became the D17 class.
Number of driving axlesInternational classificationQR classification1A -2BA3CB4DC3 (Tank locomotive)D
Improved versions of a similar class were given a second identical letter. For example, the improved version of the D17 was the DD17.
Classes
ClassificationImageYears builtWhyte notationDesignationCylinder diameter (inches)Driving axlesType Number in Class18642-4-0A10 Avonside102Freight 41865-18660-4-2A10 Neilson class – Originally B class102Mixed 1318672-6-0B11 class – Originally C class113Freight 418670-6-6-0Double boilered Cross class176Freight1874-18822-6-0B12 class – Originally E class123Mixed use18740-4-4-08D11 class114Tank18772-4-0A10 Fairlie – Originally A class102Freight18772-4-0A10 Ipswich102Freight 18782-4-0A11 class – Originally Large A class112Mixed18784-4-0A12 (small) class – American Passenger class122Passenger 318794-4-0A10 Baldwin – Originally American Passenger class102Passenger18792-8-0C13 Baldwin class134Freight18792-8-0C15 class – Originally Small Consolation class154Mixed18802-6-0B11 Baldwin class113Freight, then shunting18812-4-2T4D9 class92Tank (Mixed use)1882-18914-4-0A12 class – Originally American Passenger class122Passenger 18820-6-0T6D11½ Motor class11 1/23Tank (Freight)18820-6-2T6D13 – formerly F-class133Tank (Freight)18822-8-0C16 Baldwin class – Large Consolidation class154Freight 1883-18954-6-0B13 class133Mixed use18832-8-0C13 Dubs class134Freight1884-18852-4-2T4D10 class102Tank (Passenger)18842-8-2T8D15 class154Tank (Heavy Freight) 1889-18994-6-0B15 class153Freight1894-18954-4-0A14 class142Passenger18980-4-2T4D11½ Abt class112Tank (Rack Freight)1899-19264-6-0PB15 class153Passenger, Shunter1900-19230-6-0T6D8½ class8 1/23Tank (Passenger)1900-19150-6-0T6D13½ Abt class13 1/23Tank (Rack Freight)1901-19024-6-2T (originally), 4-6-4T (after rebuild)6D16 class163Tank (suburban passenger) 19020-6-0ST6D11½ Crane class11 1/23Saddle Tank (Inspection)1903-19184-8-0C16 class164Poison trains, mail trains, goods trains1904-19050-6-0T6D13½ later B13½ class13 1/23Tank (Shunter)19084-6-0B13 Baldwin class133Freight19114-6-0B17 class173Express Passenger19144-8-0C18 later CC19 class18 (then 19)4Express passenger19182-6-2B16½ class16 1/23Passenger1920-19534-8-0C17 class174Mail trains, suburban passenger, freight trains and passenger 1922-19354-8-0C19 class194Express passenger1923-19270-6-2B9½ class93Freight1924-19424-6-4T 6D17 later D17 class173Tank (suburban passenger) 301926-19474-6-2B18¼ class18 1/43Express passenger, suburban passenger, mail trains and heavy freight 8319432-8-2AC16 class 164Mixed use 20 1943-19454-8-2+2-8-4 2′D1′+1′D2′Australian Standard Garratt 14.58Heavy freight 571948-19524-6-4TDD17 class173Suburban passenger 121950-19584-6-2BB18¼ class18 1/43Express passenger, mail trains, suburban passenger and heavy freight trains 551950-19514-8-2+2-8-4Beyer-Garratt class13 3/48Freight 30
See also
List of Australian diesel locomotives
References