Queensland Railways 1550 class

The 1550 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1972 and 1976.

Queensland Railways 1550 class
1576 at Helidon in 1987
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderClyde Engineering, Eagle Farm
Serial number72-765 to 72-770
75-802 to 75-811
76-813 to 76-823
ModelElectro-Motive Diesel GL22C
Build date1972-1976
Total produced27
RebuilderRedbank Railway Workshops
Rebuild date1997-2004
Number rebuilt25
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Length18.04 m (59 ft 2 in)
Loco weight91.8 t (90.4 long tons; 101.2 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverElectro-Motive Diesel 645E
Engine typeV12 Diesel engine
AspirationRoots blower
GeneratorElectro-Motive Diesel AR10
Traction motorsElectro-Motive Diesel D29
Cylinders12
Cylinder size? x ?
Performance figures
Power output1,119 kW (1,501 hp)
Career
OperatorsQueensland Railways
Number in class27
Numbers1550-1576
First runSeptember 1972
Current ownerAurizon
Disposition19 in service as 2300 class
6 in service as 2250 class
2 scrapped

History

edit

The 1550 class were the first locomotives in Queensland to be fitted with low noses. An initial order for 16 locomotives was followed by 11 that were financed by the Queensland Phosphate mining group. The second batch differed in having a lower roofline to give better clearance when operating under wires.[1][2][3][4]

Two have been scrapped, while between 1997 and 2004, 19 were rebuilt as 2300 class locomotives,[5][6] and six as 2250 class locomotives at Redbank Railway Workshops.[7][8]

References

edit
  1. ^ Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 283. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  2. ^ 1550, 2400, 2300, 2500 Class Queensland's Great Trains
  3. ^ Clyde/GM 1550 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  4. ^ 1550 Class Railpage
  5. ^ Clyde/GM 2300 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  6. ^ 2300 Class Railpage
  7. ^ Clyde/GM 2250 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  8. ^ 2250 Class Railpage