Queensland D17 class locomotive
| Company type | Steam locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Steam locomotives |
The D17 class locomotive of Queensland Railways comprised a series of 4-6-4T steam locomotives operated by Queensland Rail.
History
Constructed between 1924 and 1926, a total of 20 units were produced—10 by Walkers Limited and 10 at the North Ipswich Railway Workshops—to augment the existing 6D16 class in response to increasing suburban rail demand. An additional batch of 10 locomotives was manufactured at Ipswich during the period from 1937 to 1942. According to Queensland Railways' classification, these engines were labeled D17, where D signifies a tank locomotive and 17 denotes the diameter of the cylinders in inches.
From their inception, these locomotives featured two sand-domes, a distinctive design element, and were dedicated exclusively to servicing Brisbane's suburban rail network. Their operational range included routes extending from Ipswich, through Ferny Grove, Pinkenba, Shorncliffe, Petrie, Kingston, to Lota. Eventually, this coverage expanded beyond Ipswich reaching as far as Grandchester. Initially housed at Mayne depot, several units were subsequently transferred to Woolloongabba.
The cylinder and steam chest castings were identical to those used in the C17 Class. In 1937, the '6' was removed from the classification system. After the introduction of the DD17 class, these locomotives became commonly known as ‘black tanks’. The models constructed in 1937 incorporated boilers with a pressure rating of , and earlier units received similar boiler upgrades during routine overhauls. To slightly increase coal storage capacity beyond the original , a wooden extension was installed atop the bunker.
Given their suburban deployment, these locomotives were among the final steam engines to be equipped with electric headlights, beginning in 1951.
Diesel locomotives replaced the D17 class on suburban routes throughout the 1960s. The withdrawal process commenced in November 1961, with most units retired by 1968.
Preservation
Two examples have been preserved:
- Locomotive number 268 is held by RAILCO in Ravenshoe, Queensland, currently stored alongside rolling stock due to suspended operations.
- Number 855 is maintained by the Australian Railway Historical Society and kept at the Rosewood Railway Museum.
External links
- 6D17, later D17 class Queensland Railways Interest Group