Queensland Railways 1600 class

The 1600 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1962 and 1964.

Queensland Railways 1600 class
1603 & 1634 climb the Razorback Range on the 'Last Train to Mount Morgan' tour in August 1987
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderEnglish Electric, Rocklea
Serial numberA.059 to A.067
A.070 to A.080
ModelRSE92C
Build date1962-1964
Total produced18
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
BogiesCommonwealth
Wheel diameter3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m)
Minimum curve250 ft (76.200 m)
Wheelbase32 ft (9.754 m) total, 11 ft 6 in (3.505 m) bogie
Length40 ft 9 in (12.421 m) over headstocks
Width9 ft 0+1⁄2 in (2.756 m)
Height12 ft 7+1⁄2 in (3.848 m)
Axle load10+1⁄4 long tons (10.4 t; 11.5 short tons)
Loco weight61+1⁄2 long tons (62.5 t; 68.9 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity600 imp gal (2,700 L)
Lubricant cap.60 imp gal (270 L)
Water cap.100 imp gal (450 L)
Prime moverEnglish Electric 6CSRKT Mk II
RPM range850rpm max
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspirationturbocharged, intercooled
GeneratorEE827
Traction motorsSix EE540
Cylinders6 Inline
Cylinder size10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm)
MU working110 V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle. Common working with all other QR English Electric's
Loco brakestraight air
Train brakesair
Performance figures
Maximum speed50 miles per hour (80 km/h)
Power output925 hp (690 kW) gross, 838 hp (620 kW) net
Tractive effort30,000 lbf (133.4 kN) at 7.8 mph (10 km/h)
Career
OperatorsQueensland Railways
Number in class18
Numbers1600-1617
First runJanuary 1963
Last runApril 1991
Withdrawn1991
Preserved1603, 1604, 1613, 1614, 1616
Disposition3 preserved for display, 13 scrapped, 2 operational (1614, 1616)

History

The 1600 class were built as branch line locomotives. Two contracts were let of which the first was for twelve with a follow on contract for another six. The first batch were delivered between December 1962 and June 1963, with the others arriving between October 1963 and January 1964. A lengthy delay occurred before delivery owing to the first four being over the design weight. This resulted in numbers 1604 and 1605 being the first to enter service. All others were delivered after the weight problem had been overcome.

They were initially based at Alpha in Central West Queensland[1][2][3] and at Roma in South west Queensland. They were also used for shunting at yards around the state. Soon afterwards, all the 1600s were based at Alpha. The 1620 Class followed on from the success of the 1600s, and were used in the central and northern areas of Qld.

The class was withdrawn in 1991.

Five have been preserved:[2]

Status table of preserved locomotives
Number In service Withdrawn Owner Location Notes
1603 02/1963 1991 Bundaberg Railway Historical

Society

 Bundaberg Railway Museum Static display. Relocated from CQ University (Bundaberg Campus) in July 2023.
1604 12/1962 1991 Bellarine Railway Queenscliff, Victoria Operational. Previously preserved by ARHS-Qld Division at Rosewood Railway Museum.
1613 11/1963 1991 Longreach Powerhouse Museum Longreach On static display.
1614 11/1963 1991 ARHS-Qld Division Archer Park Museum, Rockhampton Operational. On loan from ARHS-Qld Division.
1616 12/1963 1991 Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Box Flat (Swanbank) Operational. Used to supplement their flagship PB15.

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 240. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  2. 1600, 1620 Class Queensland's Great Trains
  3. English Electric 1600 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  4. Diesel locomotives Bellarine Railway
  5. Archer Park Rail Museum Archived 19 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Rockhampton Regional Council
  6. 1600 Class Diesel Electric Archived 24 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
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