Queensland Railways 1800 class rail motor

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Queensland Railways 1800 class railmotor
ITM3580403 1800 CLASS NEW RAILMOTOR ON TRAVERSER AT IPSWICH WORKSHOPS Dept No.QSA0945 E266.jpg
A new 1800 Class railmotor on the traverser at Commonwealth Engineering Granville NSW 1952.
Manufacturer Commonwealth Engineering
Built at Granville
Constructed1952–1954
Number built24 (12 railmotors and 12 trailer passenger)
Number in service2 (one railmotor, converted to a trailer passenger and one trailer passenger)
Number preserved5 (one complete railmotor, three privately owned railmotor bodies without bogies and one privately owned trailer passenger without bogies)
Number scrapped17 (7 railmotors and 10 trailer passenger)
DiagramM1800 P47 Queensland Railways Mechanical Engineers Branch Ipswich Qld. drawn 26/11/1952
Fleet numbersRail motors 1800 1803 1804 1807 1808 1811 1812 1815 1816 1819 1820 1823 Trailer passenger 1801 1802 1805 1806 1809 1810 1813 1814 1817 1818 1821 1822
Capacity55 passengers
Operators Queensland Railways
Specifications
Car length14.885 mtrs (48 ft 10 1/4 inches)
Width2.83 mtrs (9 ft 3 3/8 inches)
Height3.763 mtrs (12 ft 4 1/16 inches)
Floor height1.041 mtrs (3 ft 5 inches)
DoorsRailmotor, 4 side doors plus 1 rear end door. Trailer passenger. 4 side doors plus 2 end doors, one at each end.
Wheel diameterFront power bogie 762 mm (2 ft 6 inches). Rear bogie 838 mm (2 ft 9 inches)
Weight23.217 tonnes (22 tons 17 cwt)
Prime mover(s) Single Gardner 6L3 diesel
Power output114 kW (153 hp)
TransmissionHydraulic Coupling Wilson Epicyclic Type 5.8. 4 speed electro pnematic self selecting 4 speed gearbox.
Bogies Front: Drewry Power Bogie. Rear: Ride Control A.3. bogie.
Coupling system Double buffer and chain link.
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 1800 class railmotors were a class of self-propelled diesel railmotors built by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville for the Queensland Railways.

Contents

History

In 1949, the Queensland Railways placed an order for 12 aluminium two-carriage 1800 class railmotors with Commonwealth Engineering, Granville. Each set comprised a power car (RM – "Rail Motor") and trailer car (TP – "Trailer Passenger"). The railmotors seated 55 passengers and were delivered to Queensland Railways between 1952 and 1954. [1]

These trains were used on most Brisbane's suburban lines as well as country lines, especially in North Queensland. On suburban lines, they usually ran with two diesel powered railmotors at each end and one or more non powered trailer cars between the two. However, the 1800 class were not popular with passengers as they featured uncomfortable seating, poor riding qualities and inadequate ventilation for Queensland's humid subtropical climate. [2]

Preservation

Two trailer carriages, one of which is converted from a railmotor, remain in service on the Gulflander , operating between Normanton and Croydon, and one complete railmotor is preserved at the Rosewood Railway Museum. [3] Three railmotor bodies without bogies and one trailer passenger body also without bogies are privately owned.

Summary

NumberIn serviceWithdrawnScrappedNotes
RM180023 November 195216 January 1979October 1985
TP180123 November 1952
TP180223 November 1952
RM180323 November 195215 February 1979Body privately owned at Wondai.
RM180428 January 195323 February 1980Body privately owned near Dalby.
TP180528 January 1953
TP180628 January 1953
RM180728 January 195319 July 1975July 1976
RM180829 March 195315 February 1969March 1972
TP180929 March 1953In use as a trailer on the Gulflander since 1980.
TP181029 March 195315 February 1969March 1972
RM181129 March 1953Used as the QR Commissioners Car in the 1980s. Demotored in 1991, reclassified TP1811 for use as a trailer on the Gulflander.
RM181226 June 195320 November 1978Body privately owned near Gympie.
TP181326 June 1953Body privately owned near Ebenezer.
TP181426 June 1953
RM181526 June 195310 October 1978Preserved at the Rosewood Railway Museum.
RM181620 September 195315 November 1976October 1985
TP181720 September 1953
TP181820 September 1953
RM181920 September 195318 February 1979October 1985
RM182030 June 195414 November 1974June 1979
TP182130 June 1954
TP182230 June 1954
RM182330 June 195413 March 1972October 1985

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References

  1. Dunn, John (2006). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 1: 1921–1955. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 203–206. ISBN   1-877058-42-4.
  2. Kerr, and Armstrong (1978). Destination Sth Brisbane: An illustrated history of the Southside railways of Brisbane. Australia: Australian Railway Hist, Soc. p. 106.
  3. The 1800 Class "Blue Lagoons" Queendsland's Great Trains