Queensland Railways 1170 class explained

Queensland Railways 1170 class
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:Walkers Limited, Maryborough
Buildmodel:GE Transportation U-67T
Builddate:1956–1958
Totalproduction:12
Uicclass:A1A-A1A
Length:12.65m (41.5feet)
Locoweight:60t
Fueltype:Diesel
Primemover:Cooper Bessemer FWL6T
Generator:General Electric EE 828A
Tractionmotors:General Electric 756
Maxspeed:800NaN0
Poweroutput:477-1NaN-1
Tractiveeffort:122kN
Operator:Queensland Railways
Numinclass:12
Fleetnumbers:1170-1181
Firstrundate:18 January 1956
Lastrundate:31 March 1989
Preservedunits:1170, 1172, 1177, 1179, 1181
Disposition:5 preserved, 7 scrapped

The 1170 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1958.

History

The 1170 class were intended as a replacement for the PB15 class steam locomotives on branch lines. They were built by Walkers Limited in Maryborough under licence from GE Transportation.[1] [2]

They were originally known as the 1500 class and renumbered as the 1270 class (not to be confused with the later 1270 class) before finally being renumbered as the 1170 class.

The class were popularly known as 'Paw Paws' after a racehorse, which in turn was named after a character in a contemporary cartoon strip.[3]

They spent most of their working lives based at Townsville but in later years were used around Brisbane and the southern region of the state as shunters.[3] The first unit was withdrawn in 1984 with the final two withdrawn in 1989.

Five units have been preserved, including class leader 1170 retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division at North Ipswich.[1] [4]

Status table

1500
class
number
1270
class
number
1170
class
number
Serial
number
In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes
150012701170558Preserved, Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet, North Ipswich
150112711171559
150212721172560Preserved, privately owned. Now operational at Bell Railway Station[5]
150312731173561
150412741174562
150512751175563
150612761176564
1507127711775652018?Formerly Preserved, stripped for parts for 1172 and 1179. Remaining shell scrapped.
150812781178566
150912791179567Preserved, Rosewood Railway Museum
151012801180568
151112811181569Preserved, Herberton Railway Museum, carries number 1181

Notes and References

  1. http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/diesel/qrnational/walkersige-1170-class Walkers/IGE 1170 Class
  2. https://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/historical-diesel-locos/1170-class 1170 Class
  3. Milne. Rod. 1170 Class ("Paw Paw") of the Queensland Railways. Bulletin. Australian Railway Historical Society. 47. 669. 3–9.
  4. http://www.atrq.net/docs/PreservedDiesel.pdf Diesel Locomotives
  5. Bell progress and heritage Ass