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Queensland Railways 1300 class

Queensland Railways 1300 class
1312 at Eagle Junction in December 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Build date 1967–1972 Total produced 45
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m) Wheelbase 38 ft (11.582 m) total, 11 ft10+1⁄2 in (3.620 m) bogie Length 48 ft (14.630 m) over headstocks Width 9 ft 3 in (2.819 m) Height 12 ft4+1⁄2 in (3.772 m) over cab Axle load 15 long tons (15.2 t; 16.8 short tons) Loco weight 88.4 long tons (89.8 t; 99.0 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,000 imp gal (4,500 L) (1300-1319) Prime mover English Electric 12CSVT Mk II RPM range 850rpm max Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration turbocharged, intercooled Generator English Electric 822/16J Traction motors English Electric 548 Cylinders 12 Vee Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm) MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle Loco brake Air, dynamic Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Power output 1,950 hp (1,450 kW) gross, 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) net Tractive effort 60,000 lbf (266.9 kN)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 45 Numbers 1300–1344 First run 9 October 1967 Preserved 1318 Current owner Launceston & North East Railway Disposition 6 stored, 1 preserved, 4 exported, 35 scrapped

The 1300 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Rail between 1967 and 1972. They were later sold to AN Tasrail.

History[edit]

The 1300 class was an upgraded version of the 1270 class with more powerful engines and larger fuel tanks.^[1]

The class was primarily used on the Blackwater and Moura coal lines and based at Gladstone.^[2] The class became surplus following electrification of the coal lines in 1986–1987.^[1][3]

In 1988, the entire class was sold to AN Tasrail where they became the ZC class. They were renumbered consecutively, 1300 becoming ZC1 and 1344 becoming ZC45, although 12 units were only used as a source of spare parts.^[2][4][5][6] Most had very short working lives with just 13 remaining in service by 1995 and only six by 1997.

Ten of the ZC class were sold to Morrison-Knudsen Australia in April 1994, with eight rebuilt with new cabs as the MKA class at its Whyalla factory. Two were operated on the BHP Whyalla Steelworks network from February 1995, before being exported to Senegal.^[7] MKA1-4 saw service in Malaysia before returning to Australia. These along with the unused two were purchased by Pacific National in 2004 with MKA1-3 returning to Queensland and the others to Tasmania. By 2007, all six were in service in Tasmania renumbered in the 2130 series.^[8][9]

With the privatisation of Australian National, AN Tasrail was sold to the Australian Transport Network, with the seven remaining ZCs becoming the 2140 class. Most stored units were scrapped and the last was withdrawn in 2004.^[1] In February 2004, Pacific National purchased Australian Transport Network, including four stored 2140 class locomotives. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia purchased 2142 and 2143 for a proposed tourist service, they were later sold to Senegal. In September 2009, TasRail was sold back to the Government of Tasmania. TasRail sold three of the remaining stored locos for scrap in 2012 and donated 2144 (formerly ZC19 and 1318) to Diesel Traction Tasmania, now known as Launceston & North East Railway, for preservation.^[6][10]

ZC 19 finally entered full preservation on the 19th of May 2021 after being trucked to L&NER’s Lilydale yard. A week shy of ZC 19’s ten year anniversary of its donation by TasRail. MKA8 would be donated to the L&NER in February 2024.

Fleet summary[edit]

References[edit]