Queensland B12 class locomotive explained

Queensland Railways B12 class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Kitson & Co (12)
Avonside Engine Company (3)
Dübs & Co (6)
Neilson and Company (2)
North Ipswich Railway Workshops (2)
Builddate:1874-1882
Totalproduction:25
Driverdiameter:3feet
Fueltype:Coal
Boilerpressure:1200NaN0
Cylindercount:2 outside
Cylindersize:12x
Valvegear:Stephenson
Operator:Queensland Railways
Disposition:3 preserved, 22 scrapped

The Queensland Railways B12 class locomotive was a class of steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways.

History

The B12 class were built by a number of manufacturers for the Queensland Railways between 1874 and 1882. Originally classified the E class, per Queensland Railway's classification system they were redesignated the B12 class in 1890, B representing they had three driving axles, and the 12 the cylinder diameter in inches.[1] [2]

All were withdrawn from Queensland Railways service by July 1929 and most were scrapped, however the remains of number 28 are derelict at Normanton and components of number 40 are at Cooktown.[2] [3] [4]

Number 31 was sold to the Aramac Shire Tramway in 1911 and remained in service until 1939. Although it was condemned and copper in the boiler sold for scrap, the remainder of the locomotive remained largely intact until 1963. The boiler is now privately owned and stored at Kallangur. The remainder of the locomotive and tender are still at Aramac.[5]

Class list

BuilderWorks numberSouthern & Western Railway numberCentral Railway numberQueensland Railways numberIn serviceNotes
Kitson & Co19862323July 1875Condemned May 1915
Kitson & Co19872424April 1875Condemned September 1918
Kitson & Co19884136December 1874Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway November 1898, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned July 1927
Kitson & Co19892525April 1875Condemned May 1921
Kitson & Co19902626July 1875October 1922
Kitson & Co19912727June 1875Condemned April 1926
Kitson & Co19925137July 1875Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway November 1898, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned October 1922
Kitson & Co19936138October 1875Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway January 1901, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned July 1922
Kitson & Co20422828October 1876Transferred to Normanton Railway 1901, condemned February 1928. Currently derelict at Normanton.[6]
Kitson & Co20432929September 1876Condemned June 1921
Kitson & Co20443030October 1876
Kitson & Co20457139
Avonside Engine Company11793131November 1877Condemned December 1911, sold to Aramac Shire Tramway. The tender, wheels and frame are currently preserved at Aramac. The boiler shells, wheels and cylinders are privately owned at Kallangur.[7]
Avonside Engine Company11803232November 1877Condemned June 1921
Avonside Engine Company11813333November 1877Condemned June 1922
North Ipswich Railway Workshops23434August 1878
North Ipswich Railway Workshops33535November 1878Sold to Beaudesert Shire Tramway September 1902
Neilson and Company227512140September 1878Condemned November 1902
Neilson and Company227613141December 1878Condemned November 1902
Dübs & Co11364040September 1878Condemned February 1928. A tender and two wheel sets are preserved at the former Cooktown Rail site.[8]
Dübs & Co113714142February 1879
Dübs & Co16041515October 1882
Dübs & Co16051616October 1882Condemned July 1925
Dübs & Co16061818October 1882Condemned July 1929
Dübs & Co16071717March 1889Sold to contractor Garget & Co, repurchased March 1889, condemned December 1920

Notes and References

  1. http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/steam/b12-originally-e-class B12 class
  2. Book: Armstrong, John. Locomotives in the Tropics Volume 1. 1985. Australian Railway Historical Society. Brisbane. 0-909937-13-3. 21, 22, 95, 96.
  3. Book: Knowles, John. Lonely Rails in the Gulf. The Story of the Normanton-Croydon Railway, Queensland. John Knowles. 1983. Brisbane. 0-9593651-1-7. 13.
  4. http://www.australiansteam.com/B12%20%2028.htm B12 No 28
  5. http://www.australiansteam.com/B12%20%2031.htm B12 No 31
  6. Web site: Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - B12 No.28. www.australiansteam.com. 2019-12-04.
  7. Web site: Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - B12 No.31. www.australiansteam.com. 2019-12-04.
  8. Web site: Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - Cooktown. www.australiansteam.com. 2019-12-04.