The 1800 class railmotors were a class of self-propelled diesel railmotors built by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville for the Queensland Railways.
History
In 1949, the Queensland Railways placed an order for 12 aluminium two-carriage 1800 class railmotors with Commonwealth Engineering, Granville. Each set comprised a power car (RM – "Rail Motor") and trailer car (TP – "Trailer Passenger"). The railmotors seated 55 passengers and were delivered to Queensland Railways between 1952 and 1954.
These trains were used on most Brisbane's suburban lines as well as country lines, especially in North Queensland. On suburban lines, they usually ran with two diesel powered railmotors at each end and one or more non powered trailer cars between the two. However, the 1800 class were not popular with passengers as they featured uncomfortable seating, poor riding qualities and inadequate ventilation for Queensland's humid subtropical climate.
Preservation Two trailer carriages, one of which is converted from a railmotor, remain in service on the Gulflander, operating between Normanton and Croydon, and one complete railmotor is preserved at the Rosewood Railway Museum.The 1800 Class "Blue Lagoons" Queendsland's Great Trains Three railmotor bodies without bogies and one trailer passenger body also without bogies are privately owned.
Gallery
Summary
Number In service Withdrawn Scrapped NotesRM1800TP1801TP1802RM1803Body privately owned at Wondai.RM1804Body privately owned near Dalby.TP1805TP1806RM1807RM1808TP1809In use as a trailer on the Gulflander since 1980.TP1810RM1811Used as the QR Commissioners Car in the 1980s. Demotored in 1991, reclassified TP1811 for use as a trailer on the Gulflander.RM1812Body privately owned near Gympie.TP1813Body privately owned near Ebenezer.TP1814RM1815Preserved at the Rosewood Railway Museum.RM1816TP1817TP1818RM1819RM1820TP1821TP1822RM1823
References