Queensland Railways DH class

The DH class was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1966 and 1974.

Queensland Railways DH class
DH8 at Innisfail in May 1986
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderWalkers Limited, Maryborough
ModelGH500
Build date1966-1974
Number rebuilt73
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICB′B′
 • CommonwealthB-B
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length12.65 m (41 ft 6 in)
Loco weight37 t (36 long tons; 41 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverCaterpillar D355E
TransmissionVoith L42U2
Performance figures
Maximum speed50 km/h (31 mph)
Power output347 kW (470 hp)
Tractive effort114 kN (26,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsQueensland Railways
Number in class73
NumbersDH1-DH73
First run1966
PreservedDH2, DH5, DH14, DH37, DH38, DH45, DH59, DH71, DH72, DH73
Current ownerVietnam Railways, Puffing Billy Railway, Walhalla Goldfields Railway

History

In 1966 Queensland Railways tested a Walkers Limited built diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. This was later purchased and by 1974 the 73 DH class locomotives had taken over shunting duties in most Queensland yards.[1] They were also used on short distance freight services. With the closure of many freight yards and the move to longer trains withdrawals started in the 1980s. Many were sold for further use on Queensland sugar cane railways.[2][3]

  • 29 were rebuilt to 610 mm (2 ft) gauge for use at sugar mills around Queensland.
  • 4 were rebuilt to 900 mm (2 ft 11 7⁄16 in) gauge for use on the Yallourn 900mm Railway in Victoria, and subsequently converted to 610 mm (2 ft) gauge for use at sugar mills in Queensland.
  • 13 were exported to Vietnam and 2 to Malaysia as a Lafarge diesel shunter for use on 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.

Preservation

DH2 is retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage division. Privately owned DH71 is also on site.

DH14 was used at Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Is stored due to trains not running.

In 1995 DH59 was purchased by the Puffing Billy Railway, which operates in Victoria. It was re-gauged to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), reclassified as DH31, and is used as a replacement for steam locomotives on days of total fire ban.[4] It has since been joined by DH5.

As of 2017, DH31 is currently re-numbered back to its original DH59.

In 2010, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway in Victoria purchased DH37. The locomotive is stored on a section of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) track in the Walhalla yard, awaiting re-gauging to the Walhalla Railway's 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge. In June 2012, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway also bought DH72, which will also be stored until funds are available to re-gauge it to 762 mm.[5]

DH38 spent the majority of its working life in the Northern part of the state, especially around the Mackay area. Following a major failure – notably a large hole blown in the engine block following a crankcase explosion – the locomotive was withdrawn on 5 July 1991. After purchase by the ARHS Qld, DH38 underwent a major restoration involving rebuilding the engine and electrical system as well as having all axles and wheels replaced due to cracks.

Privately owned DH45 is currently leased, since 2015, to Southern Downs Steam Railway as a backup for SDSR's C17 steam locomotive.[6]

DH73 has been acquired by DownerEDi Marybrough to be used as a shunting locomotive. It is named Hugh Boge.[7]

Status table of preserved locomotives
Number Name In service Withdrawn Notes
DH2 27/07/1968 3/04/1991 Stored, Queensland Rail Heritage Division, dismanteled, awaiting restoration at Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich
DH5 27/08/1968 7/07/1992 Operational, Re-gauged to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), at Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria
DH14 Roger Vale 18/11/1968 23/03/1993 Stored, in good condition, at Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory
DH37 27/06/1969 14/02/1994

(Moved into Departmental service as MMY037)

 Stored, Awaiting re-gauging to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), at Walhalla Goldfields Railway, Victoria
DH38 7/07/1969 5/07/1991 Under Overhaul at Kunkala, Roseword Railway Museum
DH45 9/09/1969 14/02/1994

(Moved into Departmental service as MMY045)

 Operational, Privately owned, is currently leased, since 2015, to Southern Downs Steam Railway.
DH59 19/05/1970 20/05/1991 Operational, Re-gauged to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), at Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria
DH71 7/12/1973 23/01/1992 Stored, Privately owned, awaiting restoration at Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich
DH72 15/01/1974 Withdrawl date unknown Stored, Awaiting re-gauging to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in), at Walhalla Goldfields Railway, Victoria
DH73 Hugh Boge 7/02/1974 Withdrawl date unknown, (Moved into Departmental service as MMY073) Operational, owned and restored by DownerEDi Marybrough for use as a shunting locomotive.

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s - 1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 244. ISBN 0 730100 05 7.
  2. DH Class Queensland's Great Trains
  3. Walkers/Caterpillar DH Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
  4. Other Puffing Billy Locomotives Puffing Billy Preservation Society
  5. "DH72 heading south to join DH37 in Walhalla". Railpage Australia. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. Enklo (27 November 2018). "DH45 Diesel hydraulic locomotive | SDSR". Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  7. Dominah. "Downer EDi restores train, names it after former manager". Fraser Coast Chronicle. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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