Thread: Steam still on track.

Originally Posted by Disco44

Has anyone got a photo of QR's C19.One was on static display at Redbank before the whole display was moved to the stores section at Redbank then one by one they were taken to the Old Workshops at North Ipswich.Some have been restored and are used frequently.When I asked about the restoration of the C19 I was told it was not on the cards at the moment.Incidentally the C19 was supposedly built with the Toowoomba Range in mind or that was what I was told by QR employees at Redbank also the patterns for all QR built loco's are held at the pattern shop at Redbank.I had the opportunity off attending an alarm there one night ( in my firefighting days ) and it was interesting indeed to see all of the old patterns.The trouble is I was told on that night that few tradesman are now alive that are familiar with the patterns...such is life.

People I have answered my own question.After searching I found this attached photo of the C19 which is definitely stored at North Ipswich.It has the distinction of being the last steamer built in Australia and that was at the then Ipswich Railway Workshops now the museum.
Cheers

While on the subject of QR, I am reminded of a story often repeated by my brother-in-law (died five years ago). He travelled from Brisbane to Townsville on QR in 1942. At every hill worth talking about it was "everybody out, unload the tanks, and drive them to the top". He reckoned that the anthem of QR was "I'll walk beside you". Something I can also vouch for. In 1963 I travelled with my Series 1 from Torrens Ck to Balfe's Ck on a mixed train after the bridge was washed out at Torrens Ck. The trip of 90miles took ten hours. (and that was a steam locomotive, but I can't remember anything about it).

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

While on the subject of QR, I am reminded of a story often repeated by my brother-in-law (died five years ago). He travelled from Brisbane to Townsville on QR in 1942. At every hill worth talking about it was "everybody out, unload the tanks, and drive them to the top". He reckoned that the anthem of QR was "I'll walk beside you". Something I can also vouch for. In 1963 I travelled with my Series 1 from Torrens Ck to Balfe's Ck on a mixed train after the bridge was washed out at Torrens Ck. The trip of 90miles took ten hours. (and that was a steam locomotive, but I can't remember anything about it).

John

When the QR system was being proposed in the 19th Century, the panel took into consideration the distance of track that was going to be needed and the money available. Hence the lightly constructed narrow gauge system. Track length to service a widely scattered agricultural and pastoral population in a decentralised state was paramount. It was decided an average speed of 20 mph was adequate and this should suffice for a hundred years. Track was constructed to this standard. This was pretty much the case still in the late 1950's. The Northern Mail from Brisbane to Rockhampton then took 20 hours to travel 400 miles.

The wartime achievement of Qld. Railways is worth a book on its own. Queensland became the allies forward logistics and training base with over 3,000,000 troops passing through. QR was the only carrier available. What was a lightly constructed network serving a primary producer state became the military system carrying previously undreamed numbers of troops and unimaginable quantities of freight. Museum quality locos and rolling stock were returned to service. By the end of the war the rolling stock and track was pretty well worn out and much was unservicable. This took years to recover and some lines were closed rather than meet the costs of refurbishment. What rankled the Qld. government of the time was that they got precious little thanks from the Commonwealth and no money to rebuild.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Brian, yes all those are BIGGER and overall more powerful and don’t forget the Virginian RRs triplex 2-8-8-8-4, but on a pound for pound, power to weight ratio, nothing beats a Garret.

The spec. sheet for a NSW Garret attachjed to Ausfree's post #60 shows 260 tons and 59560 lbs tractive effort. The US Mallet and Mikado easily beat this being much lighter and more powerful.

I saw a video of a very long heavy goods train with two very big steam locos out of North Platte yards in winter heading west up the long grades to the Rocky Mountains. Spectacular. The yanks run big trains on those long hauls. Give great service too. Once about 1983 I ordered a Fiatallis 41B (75 ton dozer) which was in stock in Chicago built to the required spec. It was on rail and on the Columbus Lines ro-ro wharf at Long Beach in 5 days!!!. Cab on, blade and pushbeams underneath on a flat container wagon. No Australian system could have moved it without taking of the the tracks, track frames, and cab. The QR heavy freight rep at that time told me they only had three wagons in the entire system that could have taken the machine and much dismantling would be required to fit the loading gauge. First problem would have been for QR to find one of the three wagons and get it to Moolabin. This may have taken weeks if the wagon was in Mt. Isa or other far flung outposts.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Not quite right. The Missouri Pacific "Mikado" type made by Alco was 150 tons and tractive effort of 63,000 lbs; the Baltimore and Ohio "Mallet" type also by Alco was 160 tons and 71,500 lbs; Baltimore and Ohio articulated 2-8-8-2 KK1 class had 90,0000lbs tractive effort but I can't find a reference to its operating weight. Northern Pacific and also Duluth, Mesabi, and Iron Range operated the 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone type which are said to be among the heaviest locos ever built. Union Pacific operated the biggest of all, the 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy type, 600 tons. I can't find a reference to its tractive effort.

EDIT: Brian has quoted somer real pocket powerhouse locos, that make my Shay look pansy
The geared locomotive types have a higher tractive effort to weight ratio than most direct drive loco, for example a 3 cylinder Shay with geared reduction drive and every wheel a driving wheel.

Big Boy:
540 tons total weight
135,375 lbs tractive effort
250.69 lbs per ton tractive effort

East African Class 59 Garratt
251.68 tons total weight
73,500 lbs tractive effort
292.04 lbs per ton tractive effort

Erie Triplex
584 tons total weight
176,256 lbs tractive effort
301.8 lbs per ton tractive effort

Western Maryland 3 truck Shay (#6)
162 tons total weight
59,740 lbs tractive effort
368.765 lbs per ton tractive effort

Of course, power to weight of direct drive locos is probably in favour of the smaller compound articulated locomotives such as the Mallet, Meyer or K class Garratt, perhaps even the simple Double Fairlie or smaller simple Garratts.

This little fella resides over my workdesk:

(On3, Kemtron kit converted to straight boiler, about 32 tons, builder unknown)

My favourite preserved loco is this little fellow, a whopping 7 tonner!

Burra, from the Illawarra Light Railway Museum (Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society)
I've been scratchbuilding a dozen O scale models of this loco for about 6 years now

I am partial to the SAR. Y, TGR C, WAGR G, STC Y etc:

This particular class of loco operated in every state of Australia. I have a full set of parts to build a model. The above loco is in the caravan park at Silverton.

The private and industrial locomotives are the most fascinating to me:
Alison on rotten row at Thirlmere:

Archie (actually Jack) formerly the gate warden at Thirlmere:


and a scene from a model railway I used to have:

Originally Posted by groucho

6042 at Forbes taken not long ago from a member at RailPage. Owned by the Dorrigo mob..........

I'll let you guys discuss Loco weights and Tractive efforts etc, but gee isn't the above picture of 6042 a sad sight! I do think a Garret loco under full steam is the best sight of any of the old steamers and that includes the well loved class 38 made famous as the "Sydney Flyer"!!!

Originally Posted by Ausfree

gee isn't the above picture of 6042 a sad sight! I do think a Garret loco under full steam is the best sight of any of the old steamers and that includes the well loved class 38 made famous as the "Sydney Flyer"!!!

I’ll second that.

IMO they are the best looking steam locos in the world, WHEN IN STEAM.