Queensland Railways 1270 class explained

Queensland Railways 1270 class
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:English Electric, Rocklea
Builddate:1964–1966
Totalproduction:30
Britishclass:Co-Co
Locoweight:85t
Fueltype:Diesel
Primemover:English Electric 12SVT Mk II
Rpmrange:450–850
Enginetype:four stroke, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration:turbocharged
Generator:English Electric 822
Tractionmotors:English Electric 525
(1270-1281)
English Electric 548
(1282-1299)
Cylindercount:12 vee
Maxspeed:800NaN0
Poweroutput:1145-1NaN-1
Tractiveeffort:272kN
(1270-1281)
300kN
(1282-1299)
Operator:Queensland Railways
Numinclass:30
Fleetnumbers:1270-1299
Firstrundate:1964
Lastrundate:1989
Preservedunits:1270, 1281
Disposition:2 preserved, 28 scrapped

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

History

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

The 1270 class were displaced from coal traffic with the electrification of coalfields lines from 1986.[1] All were withdrawn between 1987 and 1989.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

Number Serial
number
In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes
1270A.092Queensland Rail Heritage Division, stored
1271A.090
1272A.091
1273A.093
1274A.094
1275A.095
1276A.098
1277A.099
1278A.100
1279A.101
1280A.102
1281A.103Named Century. Queensland Rail Heritage Division, Workshops Rail Museum
1282A.108
1283A.113
1284A.107
1285A.106
1286A.112
1287A.115
1288A.114
1289A.117
1290A.119
1291A.120
1292A.122
1293A.123
1294A.126
1295A.127
1296A.128
1297A.129
1298A.130
1299A.131

Notes and References

  1. Book: Oberg, Leon. Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. 332–333. Rosenberg Publishing. 2007. 978-1877058547.
  2. http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/diesel/qrnational/english-electric-1270-class English Electric 1270 Class
  3. https://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/historical-diesel-locos/1250-1270-class 1270 Class
  4. http://www.atrq.net/docs/PreservedDiesel.pdf Diesel Locomotives