Queensland Beyer-Garratt class

Queensland Beyer-Garratt class
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Beyer, Peacock (10)
Société Franco-Belge (20)
Serial number BP: 7341–7350, 7433–7452
SFB: 2905–2924
Build date 1950–1951
Total produced 30
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-2+2-8-4
UIC class (2′D1′)(1′D2′)
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia. 4 ft 3 in (1.295 m)
Length 90 ft (27.43 m)
Adhesive weight 76.9 long tons (78.1 t; 86.1 short tons)
Loco weight 137 long tons (139.2 t; 153.4 short tons)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 6 long tons (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons)
Water cap 3,800 imp gal (17,280 l)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 39 sq ft (3.6 m2)
Boiler pressure 200 psi (1,379 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues		 1,670 sq ft (155 m2)
Superheater:
 ​
 • Heating area 455 sq ft (42.3 m2)
Cylinders Four, outside
Cylinder size 13 3⁄4 in × 26 in (349 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 32,770 lbf (145.77 kN)
Career
Operators Queensland Railways
Class Beyer-Garratt
Number in class 30
Withdrawn 1968–69

The Queensland Beyer-Garratt class locomotive was a 4-8-2+2-8-4 steam locomotive of the Queensland Railways. The locomotives operated on 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.

Overview

A Garratt (also known as Beyer-Garratt) is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might restrict large rigid-framed locomotives. Many Garratt designs aimed to double the power of the largest conventional locomotives operating on their railways, thus reducing the need for multiple locomotives and crews.

The initial plan had been to use these engines on the proposed air-conditioned Mail Trains that were being designed at the time. This never eventuated, although they did regularly haul the “Midlander”, mainly between Emerald and Bogantungan for some years. They were used on the Rockhampton Mail and Sunshine Express in the early 1950s.

Builders

The first ten engines were constructed at Beyer Peacock & Co Limited Works in Manchester UK. Owing to the number of orders they had on hand, Beyer Peacock (BP) subcontracted Societe Franco Belge de Materiel du Chemins de fer, Raismes, France (SFB) to build the remaining twenty.[1][2]

Livery

They were painted Midland red and had chrome yellow lining with large QR monograms on the sides of the front tank and bunker. Unfortunately this attractive livery easily discoloured particularly as a result of priming. The engines were not regularly cleaned when relegated to goods train working in latter years and their appearance rapidly deteriorated.

Service

Originally trialled on the Brisbane – Toowoomba route, they were soon withdrawn from this section due to problems with limited clearances in the tunnels. They were used extensively on North Coast Line between Brisbane and Rockhampton. By 1956, this working had become restricted to mainly north of Bundaberg. They did not work north of St Lawrence on the North Coast Line. On the Central West Line they initially ran between Rockhampton and Emerald, and from 1957 their range was extended to Bogantungan.

A few were based at Mayne until 1955 and some at North Bundaberg until 1956, when all were allocated to Rockhampton. In later years they worked Moura coal trains via Mount Morgan, prior to the opening of the ‘short line’ to Gladstone. One of their last regular tasks was on limestone trains between Tarcoola and Gladstone. Increasing numbers of diesels saw mass withdrawals of these engines. Twenty two were written off in June 1968.

Advantages and disadvantages

They were subject to much positive publicity when introduced but failed to live up to all expectations. They were attributed with saving 19,500 miles of assistant and goods engine running on the Bundaberg – Rockhampton – Emerald sections between October 1950 and June 1951. Steaming difficulties were encountered with South Queensland coals; however they performed well on Blair Athol coal. The boilers had a tendency to prime. Limited coal and water capacity caused worries. General overhauls cost about three times those for a B18¼.

Features

They had a number of unique features (for QR steam engines) including Ajax air operated butterfly fire doors, Hadfield power reverse gear, speedometers and also flow meters; the latter being fitted to the class in 1955.The outer bogies and inner trucks had roller bearings but the coupled axles has plain bearings. Several engines received fabricated stove pipe chimneys to replace the original cast ones that had been damaged.

Preservation

N°1009, preserved as a static exhibit, was taken into North Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1993 and restored to working order. Subsequently, due to a leaking fusible plug, it was taken out of service.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Beyer-Garratt Class". QRIG.org. Queensland Railway's Interest Group. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Oberg, Leon (2007), Locomotives of Australia, 1854 to 2007 (4th ed.), Rosenberg Publishing, p. 239, ISBN 978-1-877058-54-7

Bibliography

External links

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