Queensland B15 class locomotive
| Company type | Steam locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Headquarters | Queensland , Australia |
| Products | Steam locomotives |
The Queensland Railways B15 class locomotive represents a notable series of 4-6-0 steam-powered engines that were operated by Queensland Rail.
History
The initial batch of B15 class engines was manufactured in 1889 by Nasmyth, Wilson & Co and commenced operation the same year. Additional procurement from Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co, Yorkshire Engine Company, and Walkers Limited expanded the total count to 92 units by 1899. According to Queensland Railways' classification criteria, the designation B15 refers to locomotives equipped with three driving axles and cylinders measuring in diameter. In 1919, Queensland Railways incorporated six more locomotives into the class after acquiring the Chillagoe Railway & Mining Co..
To mitigate problems related to fractured rails, locomotive number 336 was fitted with three sets of driving wheels sourced from the South Australian Railways at the North Ipswich Railway Workshops in November 1900. This modification proved effective, prompting the installation of similar wheelsets on most locomotives within the class over the following thirty years. The B15 class predominantly operated from the Cairns area.
Preservation
Two examples have been retained for heritage and instructional objectives:
- 290 housed at the Workshops Rail Museum
- 299 displayed at Maryborough station