Queensland Railways steam locomotive classification

Between 1864 and 1958, Queensland Railways ordered 47 types of locomotives for purposes such as freight, passenger and mail train use.

Classification edit

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.[1][2]

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.[1][2]

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.[1][2]

Number of driving axles International classification QR classification
1 A -
2 B A
3 C B
4 D C
3 (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 edit

Classification
Image Years built Whyte notation Designation Cylinder diameter (inches) Driving axles Type Number in Class
  1864 2-4-0 A10 Avonside 10 2 Freight[citation needed] 4
  1865-1866 0-4-2 A10 Neilson class – Originally B class 10 2 Mixed 13
1867 2-6-0 B11 class – Originally C class 11 3 Freight[3] 4
  1867 0-6-6-0 Double boilered Cross class 17 6 Freight[citation needed]
  1874-1882 2-6-0 B12 class – Originally E class 12 3 Mixed use[4]
  1874 0-4-4-0 8D11 class 11 4 Tank[citation needed]
  1877 2-4-0 A10 Fairlie – Originally A class 10 2 Freight[5]
  1877 2-4-0 A10 Ipswich 10 2 Freight[citation needed]
1878 2-4-0 A11 class – Originally Large A class 11 2 Mixed[6]
  1878 4-4-0 A12 (small) class – American Passenger class 12 2 Passenger 3
  1879 4-4-0 A10 Baldwin – Originally American Passenger class 10 2 Passenger[7]
  1879 2-8-0 C13 Baldwin class 13 4 Freight[8]
  1879 2-8-0 C15 class – Originally Small Consolation class 15 4 Mixed[9]
  1880 2-6-0 B11 Baldwin class 11 3 Freight, then shunting[10]
  1881 2-4-2T 4D9 class 9 2 Tank (Mixed use)[citation needed]
  1882-1891 4-4-0 A12 class – Originally American Passenger class 12 2 Passenger[11]
1882 0-6-0T 6D11½ Motor class 11 1/2 3 Tank (Freight)[12]
  1882 0-6-2T 6D13 – formerly F-class 13 3 Tank (Freight)[13]
  1882 2-8-0 C16 Baldwin class – Large Consolidation class 15 4 Freight[14]
  1883-1895 4-6-0 B13 class 13 3 Mixed use[15]
  1883 2-8-0 C13 Dubs class 13 4 Freight[16]
  1884-1885 2-4-2T 4D10 class 10 2 Tank (Passenger)[17]
  1884 2-8-2T 8D15 class 15 4 Tank (Heavy Freight)[18]
  1889-1899 4-6-0 B15 class 15 3 Freight[19]
  1894-1895 4-4-0 A14 class 14 2 Passenger[20]
  1898 0-4-2T 4D11½ Abt class 11 2 Tank (Rack Freight)[21]
  1899-1926 4-6-0 PB15 class 15 3 Passenger, Shunter[22]
  1900-1923 0-6-0T 6D8½ class 8 1/2 3 Tank (Passenger)[citation needed]
  1900-1915 0-6-0T 6D13½ Abt class 13 1/2 3 Tank (Rack Freight)[23]
  1901-1902 4-6-2T (originally), 4-6-4T (after rebuild) 6D16 class 16 3 Tank (suburban passenger)[24]
1902 0-6-0ST 6D11½ Crane class 11 1/2 3 Saddle Tank (Inspection)[25]
  1903-1918 4-8-0 C16 class 16 4 Poison trains, mail trains, goods trains[26]
  1904-1905 0-6-0T 6D13½ later B13½ class 13 1/2 3 Tank (Shunter)[27]
  1908 4-6-0 B13 Baldwin class 13 3 Freight[citation needed]
  1911 4-6-0 B17 class 17 3 Express Passenger[28]
  1914 4-8-0 C18 later CC19 class 18 (then 19) 4 Express passenger[29]
  1918 2-6-2 B16½ class 16 1/2 3 Passenger[19]
  1920-1953 4-8-0 C17 class 17 4 Mail trains, suburban passenger, freight trains and passenger[30]
  1922-1935 4-8-0 C19 class 19 4 Express passenger[31]
  1923-1927 0-6-2 B9½ class 9 3 Freight[citation needed]
  1924-1942 4-6-4T 6D17 later D17 class 17 3 Tank (suburban passenger)[24] 30
  1926-1947 4-6-2 B18¼ class 18 1/4 3 Express passenger, suburban passenger, mail trains and heavy freight[28] 83
  1943 2-8-2 AC16 class 16 4 Mixed use[32] 20
  1943-1945 4-8-2+2-8-4 2′D1′+1′D2′ Australian Standard Garratt 14.5 8 Heavy freight[33] 57
  1948-1952 4-6-4T DD17 class 17 3 Suburban passenger[31] 12
  1950-1958 4-6-2 BB18¼ class 18 1/4 3 Express passenger, mail trains, suburban passenger and heavy freight trains[34] 55
  1950-1951 4-8-2+2-8-4 Beyer-Garratt class 13 3/4 8 Freight[35] 30

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Armstrong, John (1985). Locomotives in the Tropics Volume 1. Brisbane: Australian Railway Historical Society. p. 8. ISBN 0 909937 13 3.
  2. ^ a b c Clark, Peter (2012). An Australian Locomotive Guide. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 9781921719554.
  3. ^ "B11 – Originally C Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  4. ^ "B12 – Originally E Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  5. ^ "A10 Fairlie – Originally A Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  6. ^ "A11 – Originally Large A Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  7. ^ "A10 Baldwin – Originally American Passenger Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  8. ^ "C13 Baldwin Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  9. ^ "C15 – Originally Large Consolation Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  10. ^ "B11 Baldwin Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  11. ^ "A12 – Originally American Passenger Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  12. ^ "6D11½ Motor Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  13. ^ "6D13 – Originally F – Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  14. ^ "C16 Baldwin – Large Consolidation Classba « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  15. ^ "B13 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  16. ^ "C13 Dubs – Originally Small Consolation Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  17. ^ "4D10 – Ipswich Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  18. ^ "8D15 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  19. ^ a b "B15 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  20. ^ "A14 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  21. ^ "4D11½ Abt Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  22. ^ "PB15 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  23. ^ "6D13½ Abt Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  24. ^ a b "6D16 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  25. ^ "6D11½ Crane Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  26. ^ "C16 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  27. ^ "6D13½ later B13½ Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  28. ^ a b "B17 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  29. ^ "C18 later CC19 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  30. ^ "C17 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  31. ^ a b "C19 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  32. ^ "AC16 Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Australian Standard Garratt « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  34. ^ "BB18¼ Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Beyer-Garratt Class « qrig.org – queensland railway's interest group". Retrieved 24 November 2019.