Queensland Railways was the first operator in the world to adopt narrow gauge (1,067 mm or 3 ft 6 in) for a main line, and this remains the system wide gauge within Queensland today.
1865 February. Advert. 'QUEENSLAND RAILWAY, Undertaken by Messrs. Peto, Brassey, and Betts, and under the supervision of S. Wilcox, Esq., residing at Ipswich, in the Colony of Queensland. ELIGIBLE PERSONS of the following occupations may receive a FREE PASSAGE to Queensland by first-class sailing Ships belonging to the Black Ball Line, under the direction of the Agent-General of the Queensland Government— EXCAVATORS, BRIDGE CARPENTERS, MASONS, BRICKLAYERS, and other Artisans....[more]'[1]
1888 The New South Wales Main North line connected with Queensland Railway's line to Brisbane at Wallangarra where there was a break of gauge.
1910 Queensland State Railway. Total length is 3,495 miles (1908). Officers - J. F. Tallon, Commissioner; W. Pagan, Chief Engineer; N. G. Bell, Deputy Chief Engineer. H. Horniblow, Locomotive Engineer; R. T. Darker, Locomotive Superintendent.[2]
- The locomotive of 1956 illustrated was one of ten built for the Queensland Government Railways 3 ft. 6 in. gauge system. The diesel-electric equipment for these " Co-Co " locomotives was built by the English Electric Co. Ltd., and the mechanical parts by the Vulcan Foundry Ltd. They weighed 88 tons in working order and had a maximum axle loading of 15 tons. They had a maximum effort of 50,000 lb. with a continuous tractive effort of 30,000 lb. at 12.4 m.p.h. their maximum permissible service speed being 45 m.p.h. [3]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Western Times - Friday 10 February 1865
- ↑ 1911 Bradshaw’s Railway Manual
- ↑ The Engineer Centenary Part 6: Modern Products and Centenarians