Queensland C19 class locomotive
Encyclopedia
The Queensland C19 class steam locomotive was a 4-8-0
steam locomotive
of the Queensland Railways (QR).
The locomotives operated on 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge. The significance of the first "C" is in line with the QR loco classing system where the letter referred to the number of coupled wheels, being eight coupled wheels for the C19 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of nineteen inches.
It was intended to build additional C18 class locomotives in anticipation of increased traffic with the extension of the North Coast Line to Mackay. By 1920 the plan had been revised and resulted in the design of the C19 class. They were the largest conventional type locomotives to operate on QR.
The class was originally used for heavy Mail Train work and important North Coast Line traffic. They were eventually displaced from Mail Train working by B18¼ class
engines.
Initially the class was restricted to working only as far as Bundaberg on the NCL but this was gradually extended north to Bowen. They did not regularly work beyond Mackay. Roma and Wallangarra were their limits in the West and South. Two of the class were based at Rockhampton, four at Maryborough and the remainder shared between Mayne and Willowburn (Toowoomba). They were regularly used on goods trains between Brisbane and Toowoomba and also on the Darling Downs.
Engine Nº 702 entered traffic in December 1923 and was named “Centenary” as it was the hundredth engine constructed by Ipswich workshops.
A number of modifications were made over the years. The early engines had a large regulator dome and another smaller one for the safety valves similar to the B17 class. Those built from 1926 onwards had a boiler with only one small dome that contained both regulator and safety valves. Earlier engines later received this type as they became due for re-boilering. Both the initial and the subsequent boilers shared a firebox having a long, narrow grate which required considerable effort on the part of the fireman, and rendered them unpopular.
The engines suffered from a number of defects and were prone to cracked frames. As their condition deteriorated and with the introduction of modern engines and later DEL for heavy traffic, the engines were relegated to lesser duties and most were withdrawn during the 1950s. Three engines that had been written off the books were returned to service for short periods in the late 1950s to overcome motive power shortages at that time.
Nº 800 was retained at Maryborough as a stationary steam plant for some years after being written off in April 1956.
Several C19 tenders were kept in a pool at Ipswich after their engines had been withdrawn. These tenders were then fitted temporarily to overhauled (C17
/B18¼
/BB18¼
) engines that were ready to return to service but their respective tenders were not yet available
The last engine in service was Nº 700 at Toowoomba and was written off the books in February 1964.This engine was preserved and is now at Ipswich Workshops.
, Engineers, Maryborough, Queensland
.
4-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. The type was nicknamed the Mastodon or Twelve-wheeler in North America....
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
of the Queensland Railways (QR).
The locomotives operated on 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge. The significance of the first "C" is in line with the QR loco classing system where the letter referred to the number of coupled wheels, being eight coupled wheels for the C19 class, followed by numerals indicating the cylinder diameter of nineteen inches.
It was intended to build additional C18 class locomotives in anticipation of increased traffic with the extension of the North Coast Line to Mackay. By 1920 the plan had been revised and resulted in the design of the C19 class. They were the largest conventional type locomotives to operate on QR.
The class was originally used for heavy Mail Train work and important North Coast Line traffic. They were eventually displaced from Mail Train working by B18¼ class
Queensland B18¼ class locomotive
The B18¼ class steam locomotive was a 4-6-2 locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge...
engines.
Initially the class was restricted to working only as far as Bundaberg on the NCL but this was gradually extended north to Bowen. They did not regularly work beyond Mackay. Roma and Wallangarra were their limits in the West and South. Two of the class were based at Rockhampton, four at Maryborough and the remainder shared between Mayne and Willowburn (Toowoomba). They were regularly used on goods trains between Brisbane and Toowoomba and also on the Darling Downs.
Engine Nº 702 entered traffic in December 1923 and was named “Centenary” as it was the hundredth engine constructed by Ipswich workshops.
A number of modifications were made over the years. The early engines had a large regulator dome and another smaller one for the safety valves similar to the B17 class. Those built from 1926 onwards had a boiler with only one small dome that contained both regulator and safety valves. Earlier engines later received this type as they became due for re-boilering. Both the initial and the subsequent boilers shared a firebox having a long, narrow grate which required considerable effort on the part of the fireman, and rendered them unpopular.
The engines suffered from a number of defects and were prone to cracked frames. As their condition deteriorated and with the introduction of modern engines and later DEL for heavy traffic, the engines were relegated to lesser duties and most were withdrawn during the 1950s. Three engines that had been written off the books were returned to service for short periods in the late 1950s to overcome motive power shortages at that time.
Nº 800 was retained at Maryborough as a stationary steam plant for some years after being written off in April 1956.
Several C19 tenders were kept in a pool at Ipswich after their engines had been withdrawn. These tenders were then fitted temporarily to overhauled (C17
Queensland C17 class locomotive
The C17 class locomotive was a 4-8-0 locomotive of the Queensland Railways. . The locomotives operated on narrow gauge.The design was so successful that 227 locomotives were built from 1920 when the first engine N° 15 entering service through until 1953 when N° 1000 was delivered. The 22 NM...
/B18¼
Queensland B18¼ class locomotive
The B18¼ class steam locomotive was a 4-6-2 locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge...
/BB18¼
Queensland BB18¼ class locomotive
The BB18¼ class locomotive was a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways.Fifty-five BB18¼ class locomotives were built. The first batch of 35, numbered from 1011 to 1045, were built in 1950 by the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The final batch of 20,...
) engines that were ready to return to service but their respective tenders were not yet available
The last engine in service was Nº 700 at Toowoomba and was written off the books in February 1964.This engine was preserved and is now at Ipswich Workshops.
- Capacity increased by fitting coal boards
Builders
The first twenty were built at Ipswich workshops and the last six by Walkers LimitedWalkers Limited
Walkers Limited is an Australian engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland, which built ships and locomotives. It is still in the locomotive-building business as part of Downer Rail.-History:...
, Engineers, Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
.
See also
- Rail transport in QueenslandRail transport in QueenslandRail transport in Queensland began in 1865. Today it is one of the largest narrow gauge railway network in the world.-Public float:On 2 June 2009 the Queensland Government announced the 'Renewing Queensland Plan', with Queensland Rail's commercial activities to be separated from the Government's...
- List of Queensland steam locomotives
External links
- C19 class – Queensland Railways Interest Group