|
| Total Number of Engines Built |
30 |
| First Engine Built |
1950 |
| Last Engine Built |
1950 |
| First Engine Written Off |
1968 |
| Last Engine Written Off |
1969 |
Number of Engines in Class on the Books as at: -
|
31/12/50
|
31/12/60
|
31/12/66
|
31/12/67
|
3/12/68
|
31/12/69
|
|
-
|
30
|
30
|
30
|
8
|
-
|
Number of Engines in Class in Service as at: -
|
31/12/67
|
31/12/68
|
7/10/69
|
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
Notes
The initial plan had been to use these engines on the proposed air-conditioned Mail Trains that were being designed at the time. This never eventuated, although they did regularly haul the "Midlander", mainly between Emerald and Bogantungan for some years. They were used on the Rockhampton Mail and Sunshine Express in the early 1950s.
The first ten engines were constructed at Beyer Peacock & Co Limited Works in Manchester UK. Owing to the number of orders they had on hand, Beyer Peacock (BP) contracted Societe Franco Belge de Materiel du Chemins de fer, Raismes, France (FRB)to build the remaining twenty.
They were painted Midland red and had chrome yellow lining with large QR monograms on the sides of the front tank and bunker. Unfortunately this attractive livery easily discoloured particularly as a result of priming. The engines were not regularly cleaned when relegated to goods train working in latter years and their appearance rapidly deteriorated.
Originally trialled on the Brisbane - Toowoomba route, they were soon withdrawn from this section due to problems with limited clearances in the tunnels. They were used extensively on North Coast Line between Brisbane and Rockhampton. By 1956, this working had become restricted to mainly north of Bundaberg. They did not work north of St Lawrence on the NCL. On the Central Line they initially ran between Rockhampton and Emerald but from 1957 this was extended to Bogantungan.
A few were attached to Mayne until 1955 and some at North Bundaberg until 1956, when all were allocated to Rockhampton. In later years they worked Moura coal trains via Mount Morgan, prior to the opening of the 'short line' to Gladstone. One of their last regular tasks was on limestone trains between Tarcoola and Gladstone. Increasing numbers of diesels saw mass withdrawals of these engines. Twenty two were written off in June 1968.
They were subject to much positive publicity when introduced but failed to live up to all expectations. They were attributed with saving 19,500 miles of assistant and goods engine running on the Bundaberg - Rockhampton - Emerald sections between October 1950 and June 1951. Steaming difficulties were encountered with South Queensland coals; however they performed well on Blair Athol coal. The boilers had a tendency to prime. Limited coal and water capacity caused worries. General overhauls cost about three times those for a B18¼.
They had a number of unique features (for QR steam engines) including Ajax air operated butterfly fire doors, Hadfield power reversers, speedometers and also flow meters; the latter being fitted to the class in 1955.The outer bogies and inner trucks had roller bearings but the coupled axles has plain bearings. Several engines received fabricated stove pipe chimneys to replace the original cast ones that had been damaged.
N°1009, preserved as a static exhibit, was taken into Ipswich Workshops in 1993 and restored to working order.
Dimensions
|
Wheel Arrangement
|
4-8-2 + 2-8-4
|
|
Cylinders (diameter X stroke) ins.
|
13¾ X 26 (4)
|
|
Coupled Wheels diameter ins.
|
51
|
|
Rigid Wheel base
|
9' 5"
|
|
Length over Buffers
|
90' 0"
|
|
Height over Smoke stack
|
12' 3"
|
|
Axle Load
|
10.15*
|
|
Boiler Pressure - psi.
|
200
|
|
Heating Surface - tubes
|
1523
|
|
Heating Surface - Total -sq. ft.
|
2102
|
|
Grate Area - square feet
|
39
|
|
Weight - Adhesive -tons
|
76.9
|
|
Weight - Engine
|
137.0*
|
|
Coal Capacity - tons
|
6
|
|
Water Capacity - gallons
|
3800
|
|
Tractive Effort - lbs. (85%)
|
32770
|
|
Factor of Adhesion
|
5.27
|
|
Valve Gear
|
Walschaert
|
|
W.H. Pump
|
7-80"
|
|
Brake Valve
|
A6-ET
|
* Test weighing proved some engines to be 11 tons over this design weight with 11TAL
|
No
|
Builder
|
Works No
|
Year
|
In Service
|
Written Off
|
Notes
|
|
1001
|
BP
|
7341
|
1950
|
11.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1002
|
BP
|
7342
|
1950
|
20.10.50
|
6.68
|
Later fitted with a stovepipe chimney
|
|
1003
|
BP
|
7343
|
1950
|
13.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1004
|
BP
|
7344
|
1950
|
3.10.50
|
6.68
|
Later fitted with a stovepipe chimney
|
|
1005
|
BP
|
7345
|
1950
|
11.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1006
|
BP
|
7346
|
1950
|
6.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1007
|
BP
|
7347
|
1950
|
27.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1008
|
BP
|
7348
|
1950
|
18.9.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1009
|
BP
|
7349
|
1950
|
22.8.50
|
6.68
|
Exhibited at Central Qld Industries Fair Rockhampton 1950 Retained by QR and returned to working order 1995
|
|
1010
|
BP
|
7350
|
1950
|
18.10.50
|
6.68
|
|
|
1090
|
FRB
|
7433
|
1950
|
30.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1091
|
FRB
|
7434
|
1950
|
18.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1092
|
FRB
|
7435
|
1950
|
4.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1093
|
FRB
|
7436
|
1950
|
16.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1094
|
FRB
|
7437
|
1950
|
20.4.51
|
6.69
|
|
|
1095
|
FRB
|
7438
|
1950
|
20.4.51
|
2.69
|
|
|
1096
|
FRB
|
7439
|
1950
|
13.4.51
|
2.69
|
Fitted with a stovepipe chimney in 1959. Later refitted with cast type. Was retained for excursion trains. Scrapped at Banyo 12.73
|
|
1097
|
FRB
|
7440
|
1950
|
28.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1098
|
FRB
|
7441
|
1950
|
11.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1099
|
FRB
|
7442
|
1950
|
2.5.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1100
|
FRB
|
7443
|
1950
|
18.4.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1101
|
FRB
|
7444
|
1950
|
27.4.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1102
|
FRB
|
7446
|
1950
|
18.7.51
|
6.68
|
Later fitted with a stovepipe chimney
|
|
1103
|
FRB
|
7446
|
1950
|
13.7.51
|
6.69
|
|
|
1104
|
FRB
|
7447
|
1950
|
11.12.51
|
6.69
|
|
|
1105
|
FRB
|
7448
|
1950
|
11.7.51
|
6.68
|
|
|
1106
|
FRB
|
7449
|
1950
|
31.1.52
|
6.69
|
|
|
1107
|
FRB
|
7450
|
1950
|
25.1.52
|
9.68
|
|
|
1108
|
FRB
|
7451
|
1950
|
14.12.51
|
6.68
|
Fitted with raised bunker sides
|
|
1109
|
FRB
|
7452
|
1950
|
7.12.51
|
6.69
|
Fitted with raised bunker sides
|
|
