Queensland Railways DH class

Queensland Railways DH class
DH8 at Innisfail in May 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-hydraulic Builder Walkers Limited, Maryborough Model GH500 Build date 1966-74 Number rebuilt 73
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC B'B' Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 12.65 m (41 ft 6 in) Loco weight 37 t (36 long tons; 41 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Caterpillar D355E Transmission Voith L42U2
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 km/h (31 mph) Power output 347 kW (470 hp) Tractive effort 114 kN (26,000 lbf)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 73 Numbers DH1-DH73 First run 1966 Preserved DH2, DH5, DH38, DH45, DH59, DH71 Current owner Vietnam Railways

The DH class was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1966 and 1974.

History

In 1966 Queensland Railways tested a Walkers Limited built diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. This was later purchased and by 1974 the 73 DH class locomotives had taken over shunting duties in most Queensland yards. They were also used on short distance freight services. With the closure of many freight yards and the move to longer trains withdrawals started in the 1980s. Many were sold for further use on Queensland sugar cane railways.

• 29 were rebuilt to 610 mm (2 ft) gauge for use at sugar mills around Queensland.
• 4 were rebuilt to 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) gauge for use on the Yallourn 900mm Railway in Victoria, and subsequently converted to 2 ft (610 mm) gauge for use at sugar mills in Queensland
• 13 were exported to Vietnam and 2 to Malaysia as a Lafarge diesel shunter for use on 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge

Preservation

DH2 and DH74 are retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage division

In 1995 DH59 was purchased by the Puffing Billy Railway, which operates in Victoria. It was re-gauged to 2 ft 6 in (762 mm), reclassified as DH31, and is used as a replacement for steam locomotives on days of total fire ban. It has since been joined by DH5.

As at 2017, DH31 is currently re-numbered back to its original DH59.

In 2010 the Walhalla Goldfields Railway in Victoria purchased DH37. The locomotive is stored on a section of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) track in the Walhalla yard, awaiting re-gauging to the Walhalla Railway's 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge. In June 2012, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway also bought DH72, which will also be stored until funds are available to re-gauge it to 2 ft 6 in.