Queensland Railways 1200 class explained

Queensland Railways 1200 class
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:English Electric, Bradford
Builddate:1953–1954
Totalproduction:10
Britishclass:Co-Co
Wheeldiameter:33NaN3
Wheelbase:453NaN3 total, 12feet bogie
Length:54feet over couplers
Width:9feet
Height:12feet
Axleload:14.7LT
Locoweight:88t
Fueltype:Diesel
Fuelcap:750impgal
Primemover:English Electric 12SVT Mk II
Rpmrange:450–850rpm
Enginetype:four stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration:turbocharged
Generator:EE828
Tractionmotors:Six EE525
Cylindercount:12 Vee
Cylindersize:10x
Poweroutput:1290-1NaN-1 gross, 1100-1NaN-1 net
Tractiveeffort:300001NaN1 at 12-1NaN-1
Locobrakes:Air
Trainbrakes:Air
Operator:Queensland Railways
Numinclass:10
Fleetnumbers:1200–1209
Deliverydate:July 1953
Lastrundate:10 February 1984
Preservedunits:1200, 1208
Disposition:2 preserved, 8 scrapped

The 1200 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Bradford for Queensland Railways in 1953–1954.

History

The 1200 class were rostered to haul The Sunlander between Brisbane and Cairns, The Westlander between Brisbane and Roma and The Inlander from Townsville to Mount Isa.[1]

A characteristic addition to the 1200s in 1961 was a sun visor to help reduce glare. As they became due for heavy overhauls in the late 1970s, they were withdrawn.[1]

1200 has been preserved by the Australian Railway Historical Society, and is currently stored at Redbank Railway Workshops.[2] [3] [4]

1225 class

In 1984, 1208 was rebuilt using parts from 1250 class locomotives 1252 and 1253, including a more powerful 1145-1NaN-1 engine to replace the original 962-1NaN-1 EE 12SVT engine, while the body was modified to resemble a 1250 class. It earned the nickname "Hybrid" after this work and was renumbered 1225. It also resembles the Brazilian RFN Class 700. It remained in service until 1987, based at Toowoomba working mainly on the Southern line. The loco is now privately owned and is currently stored at Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway (QPSR) at Swanbank Queensland since it was moved there in mid-2010. QPSR now want it out of their premises so now its future is uncertain.[2] [4] [5]

Status table

Number Serial
number
In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes
12001905-D146Preserved
12011906-D147
12021907-D148
12031908-D149
12041909-D150
12051910-D151
12061911-D152
12071912-D153
12081913-D154Rebuilt as 1225
12091914-D155
1225Preserved

Notes and References

  1. Book: Oberg, Leon. Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. 1984. Reed Books. Frenchs Forest. 0-730100-05-7. 212.
  2. http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/diesel/qrnational/english-electric-1200-class English Electric 1200 Class
  3. http://www.atrq.net/docs/PreservedDiesel.pdf Diesel Locomotives
  4. https://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/historical-diesel-locos/1200-class 1200 Class
  5. News: Adams. Greg. Rebuilding a Rebuild: The story of QR 'Hybrid' 1225. December 2010. Railway Digest. 56.