Queensland Railways 1270 class

The 1270 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1964 and 1966.

Queensland Railways 1270 class
1270 and 1281 in Auchenflower
in November 1985
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderEnglish Electric, Rocklea
Build date1964–1966
Total produced30
Specifications
Configuration:
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Loco weight85 t (84 long tons; 94 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEnglish Electric 12SVT Mk II
RPM range450–850
Engine typefour stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspirationturbocharged
GeneratorEnglish Electric 822
Traction motorsEnglish Electric 525
(1270-1281)
English Electric 548
(1282-1299)
Cylinders12 vee
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Power output1,145 kW (1,540 hp)
Tractive effort272 kN (61,000 lbf)
(1270-1281)
300 kN (67,000 lbf)
(1282-1299)
Career
OperatorsQueensland Railways
Number in class30
Numbers1270-1299
First run1964
Last run1989
Preserved1270, 1281
Disposition2 preserved, 28 scrapped

History

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1281 Century at the Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich in October 2011

The 1270 class was devised by English Electric engineer Stan Lyons, based on the body design of North American road switcher but using the same engine and generator as the 1250 class. The first 12 units had the same English Electric 525 traction motors as the 1250 class. The remaining units had improved English Electric 548 traction motors with a slightly higher tractive effort. The final six units had dynamic brakes.[1]

In 1965, 1281 was named Century and painted in a commemorative gold and white livery to mark the centenary of the first railway in Queensland.[2]

They were used on grain trains between the Darling Downs and Brisbane, ore trains on the Mount Isa line and coal trains on the Moura line.[3] With higher power diesel locomotives becoming available in the 1970s, the 1270s were moved to general freight.[2]

Withdrawal & disposal

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The 1270 class were displaced from coal traffic with the electrification of coalfields lines from 1986.[1] All were withdrawn between 1987 and 1989. Two units were retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division[2][4] and the remainder were scrapped.

Fleet summary

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Number Serial
number
In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes
1270 A.092 26 October 1964 24 November 1988 Queensland Rail Heritage Division, stored
1271 A.090 9 November 1964 19 January 1989 October 1991
1272 A.091 23 November 1964 18 November 1989 January 1992
1273 A.093 7 December 1964 8 November 1988 October 1991
1274 A.094 21 December 1964 18 January 1989 October 1991
1275 A.095 7 January 1965 30 December 1988 September 1991
1276 A.098 23 April 1965 17 January 1989 November 1991
1277 A.099 30 April 1965 23 January 1989 November 1991
1278 A.100 13 May 1965 17 November 1988 September 1991
1279 A.101 21 May 1965 19 November 1988 November 1991
1280 A.102 22 June 1965 18 November 1988 November 1991
1281 A.103 30 July 1965 4 January 1989 Named Century. Queensland Rail Heritage Division, Workshops Rail Museum
1282 A.108 6 November 1964 17 November 1987 October 1991
1283 A.113 21 February 1966 29 October 1988 November 1991
1284 A.107 7 December 1965 21 November 1988 October 1991
1285 A.106 26 November 1965 31 October 1988 January 1992
1286 A.112 4 February 1966 16 January 1989 October 1991
1287 A.115 18 March 1966 30 December 1988 November 1991
1288 A.114 7 April 1966 21 November 1988 October 1991
1289 A.117 22 April 1966 22 December 1988 October 1991
1290 A.119 29 April 1966 14 November 1988 November 1991
1291 A.120 13 May 1966 25 September 1989 November 1991
1292 A.122 3 June 1966 17 November 1988 November 1991
1293 A.123 10 June 1966 16 November 1988 January 1992
1294 A.126 17 June 1966 22 December 1988 October 1991
1295 A.127 1 July 1966 4 January 1989 September 1991
1296 A.128 15 July 1966 5 April 1988 October 1991
1297 A.129 28 July 1966 10 August 1987 December 1989
1298 A.130 12 August 1966 16 January 1989 November 1991
1299 A.131 12 August 1966 21 January 1988 October 1991

References

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  1. ^ a b Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 332–333. ISBN 978-1877058547.
  2. ^ a b c English Electric 1270 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  3. ^ 1270 Class Queensland's Great Trains
  4. ^ Diesel Locomotives Association of Tourist Railways Queensland 13 March 2011