Queensland Railways 2350 class

Queensland Railways 2350 class
2356 in Gympie yard with 1621 in 1987
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Serial number A.253 to A.258 A.263 to A.268 Build date 1973-1974 Total produced 12
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m) Wheelbase 38 ft 6 in (11.735 m) total, 12 ft 6 in (3.810 m) bogie Length 52 ft 9 in (16.078 m) over headstocks Width 9 ft 3 in (2.819 m) Height 12 ft 5+1⁄8 in (3.788 m) Axle load 15 long tons (15.2 t; 16.8 short tons) Loco weight 90 long tons (91.4 t; 100.8 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,500 imp gal (6,800 L) Prime mover English Electric 12CSVT Mk III RPM range 900rpm Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration turbocharged, intercooled Alternator Toyo WD10314A Traction motors English Electric 548 Cylinders 12 Vee Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm) MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle Loco brake Air, dynamic Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Power output 2,550 hp (1,900 kW) gross, 2,350 hp (1,750 kW) net
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 12 Numbers 2350-2361 First run April 1973 Current owner TasRail, Launceston & North East Railway Disposition 2 stored, 1 preserved, 2 rebuilt, 7 scrapped

The 2350 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea, for Queensland Railways in 1973–1974. All were later sold to AN Tasrail.

History

2356 hauls a special train up the grade north of Eumundi on the North Coast line in 1987

The 2350 class was built for use on the Blackwater and Moura coal lines and based at Gladstone.^[1][2][3] The class became surplus following electrification of the coal lines and in 1987 were all sold to AN Tasrail where they all entered service as the ZB class.^[4][5][6] They were very similar to the Tasrail Za class. In fact, the first four ZA class's builder's numbers follow on in sequence from those of the 2350s and are followed by those of the 2370s.^{[citation needed]}

In 1995, one was rebuilt by Australian National's Port Augusta workshop with a raked cab similar to the EL class and renumbered ZR1, while in 1997 a second was rebuilt at AN Tasrail's Launceston workshops with a more conventional cab as ZR2.^[7][8][9]

In 2003, three were sold to South Spur Rail Services, with two shipped to Western Australia to operate infrastructure trains with the fourth stripped for parts in Launceston, eventually being owned by Greentrains. Finally being scrapped in 2016, with the sole remaining WAGR R class, after being left exposed to heavy vandalism.^[6]

The remaining four locomotives are in storage at TasRail's East Tamar workshops, having been out of use since early 2014. One of these, ZB 5/2123 (2352), has been preserved by Launceston & North East Railway. It was finally delivered to their Lilydale yard on 27 May 2022, making it the first of its class in preservation. ZP1 was donated to the Don River Railway in 2023, while ZR2 was donated to the L&NER in February 2024.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 285–286. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
2. English Electric 2350 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
3. 2350/2370 Class Railpage
4. 2350 Class Queensland's Great Trains
5. ZB Class Railpage
6. ZB Class Rail Tasmania
7. ZR Class Railpage
8. ZR Class Rail Tasmania
9. "Rebuilt Loco Arrives at Tasrail" Railway Digest July 1996 page 16

External links

Media related to Queensland Railways 2350 class at Wikimedia Commons