Queensland Railways 1800 class railmotor
A new 1800 Class railmotor on the traverser at Commonwealth Engineering Granville NSW 1952.
ManufacturerCommonwealth Engineering
Built atGranville
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
OperatorsQueensland 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.
BogiesFront: Drewry Power Bogie. Rear: Ride Control A.3. bogie.
Coupling systemDouble buffer and chain link.
Track gauge1,067 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.

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.

Gallery

Summary

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2023)
Number In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes
RM1800 23 November 1952 16 January 1979 October 1985
TP1801 23 November 1952
TP1802 23 November 1952
RM1803 23 November 1952 15 February 1979 Body privately owned at Wondai.
RM1804 28 January 1953 23 February 1980 Body privately owned near Dalby.
TP1805 28 January 1953
TP1806 28 January 1953
RM1807 28 January 1953 19 July 1975 July 1976
RM1808 29 March 1953 15 February 1969 March 1972
TP1809 29 March 1953 In use as a trailer on the Gulflander since 1980.
TP1810 29 March 1953 15 February 1969 March 1972
RM1811 29 March 1953 Used as the QR Commissioners Car in the 1980s. Demotored in 1991, reclassified TP1811 for use as a trailer on the Gulflander.
RM1812 26 June 1953 20 November 1978 Body privately owned near Gympie.
TP1813 26 June 1953 Body privately owned near Ebenezer.
TP1814 26 June 1953
RM1815 26 June 1953 10 October 1978 Preserved at the Rosewood Railway Museum.
RM1816 20 September 1953 15 November 1976 October 1985
TP1817 20 September 1953
TP1818 20 September 1953
RM1819 20 September 1953 18 February 1979 October 1985
RM1820 30 June 1954 14 November 1974 June 1979
TP1821 30 June 1954
TP1822 30 June 1954
RM1823 30 June 1954 13 March 1972 October 1985

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 illusrated history of the Southside railways of Brisbane. Australia: Australian Railway Hist, Soc. p. 106.
  3. ^ The 1800 Class "Blue Lagoons" Queendsland's Great Trains
Category