Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor

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Queensland Railways 2000 class railmotor
2034atRSTsqaure.jpg
2000 class on a railtour to Toowoomba in September 2018
In service1956 - Present
Manufacturer North Ipswich Railway Workshops
Commonwealth Engineering
Built at Ipswich
Rocklea
Constructed1956-1971
Number built42
Number in service3 in regular use, 3 preserved units available for mainline charters [1]
Number preserved19
Number scrapped15
FormationUp to four cars
Fleet numbers2000-2034, 2036, 2038, 2040, 2051, 2053, 2055, 2057
Capacity54 passengers
42 passengers (with luggage compartment)
52 passengers (intermediate cars)
Operator(s) Queensland Railways, Aurizon
Depot(s)Ipswich, Townsville, Mayne (when required)
Specifications
Car length55 ft (17 m)
Width8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
EntryPlatform level and step
Doors2
Wheel diameter2 ft 6 in (0.76 m)
Wheelbase 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight21.3 t (21.0 long tons; 23.5 short tons) (2000-2001)
22 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons) (2002-2057)
Prime mover(s) 125 hp (93 kW) AEC (2000-2001)
150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce (2002-2057)
Coupling system Screw and Hook, Emergency attachable coupler
Multiple working Within Class
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 2000 class railcars are a class of self-propelled railcars built by Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea for the Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1971.

Contents

History

2000 class rail motors at Helidon in 1987. Dia 0222.jpg
2000 class rail motors at Helidon in 1987.

In 1956, two 2000 class railmotor prototypes were constructed by Queensland Railways at its Ipswich Railway Workshops sheeted in satin finished aluminium. They were powered by 125 hp (93 kW) AEC engines. [2] [3]

In 1959, ten units were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering. These differed from the prototypes in having sheeted stainless steel and 150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce engines. In 1963, a further five were ordered, followed in 1971 by a further ten. [2] The last four were completed as Passenger Luggage Driving Trailers with access doors at both ends instead of a streamlined front, allowing the formation of three-car (and occasionally four-car) trains.

They operated services around Brisbane as well as being allocated to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. [3]

Most were withdrawn in the early 1990s, with the last operating in regular service on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line in January 2000. [4]

Queensland Rail retains nine units, of which three operate The Savannahlander tourist train, [5] three are operational with the QR Heritage Division (and occasionally used by Queensland Rail for track inspections) and three are stored at Ipswich Workshops. Aurizon inherited two units from QR National which are used for track inspections. These units are now with DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum. [1] Many others are preserved.

Summary

Key:In ServiceWithdrawnPreservedScrapped
NumberIn serviceWithdrawnScrappedCurrent ownerNotes
RM200010 May 19568 April 1987Some time after 2004Prototype Cars
RM200121 December 19568 April 1987Some time after 2004Prototype Cars
RM200212 May 196012 November 1988PrivateStored
RM200312 May 196018 January 1989June 1996
RM200414 July 1960DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum [1] Formerly owned by Aurizon
RM200514 July 19601 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage DivisionStored
RM200626 October 196030 December 1993 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM200726 October 196030 September 1992PrivateStored
RM200828 November 19607 February 1989 Zig Zag Railway Stored
RM200928 November 19603 April 1989PrivateStored
RM201012 January 19612 December 1988June 1995
RM201112 January 19611 April 1994 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM201211 February 19616 February 1989PrivateBody preserved at Station Road Cafe, Station Road Yeerongpilly.
RM201311 February 196129 January 1975December 1976
RM20147 March 196113 June 1989 Mount Morgan Railway Museum Static
RM20157 March 196120 January 1989June 1995
RM201630 March 196125 June 19912018 Zig Zag Railway Burnt in 2013 New South Wales bushfires.
RM201730 March 196131 December 1993 Mary Valley Rattler Operational
RM20185 May 196120 January 1989June 1995
RM20195 May 196120 January 1989June 1995
RM20205 June 196117 January 1989 Zig Zag Railway Stored
RM20215 June 196129 March 1989PrivateStored
RM202222 March 196330 December 1993June 1995
RM202322 March 196331 December 1993 Mary Valley Rattler Operational
RM202426 April 19631 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage DivisionStored
RM202526 April 19637 August 1989PrivateStored
RM202610 May 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM202710 May 196330 December 1993June 1995
RM202814 June 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM202914 June 196330 December 1993June 1995
RM20301 June 19639 May 1991June 1995
RM20311 June 19631 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage DivisionStored.
RM203217 December 1970DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum [1] Formerly owned by Aurizon
RM203317 December 197030 December 1993 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM203410 January 19711 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage DivisionOperational, main line registered. Also used for track inspections.
RM203610 January 19711 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage DivisionOperational, main line registered. Also used for track inspections.
RM203820 April 19714 January 1994 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM204020 April 19715 October 1990June 1995
RM205111 February 19715 January 1994 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM205311 February 1971 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM205515 March 19711 October 19932018 Zig Zag Railway Burnt in 2013 bushfires
RM205715 March 19711 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division.Operational, has received a new engine and some new internal modifications; including Disabled Access and Toilet facilities. Main line registered

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Commissioner – DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum" . Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "2000 Class Railmotors" The Workshops Rail Museum 23 October 2003
  3. 1 2 Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2: 1955-1966. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 87–89, 95–100. ISBN   1877058734.
  4. "QR ICE Set Controversy" Railway Digest March 2000 page 14
  5. Rollingstock Archived 24 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Savannahlander