Queensland Railways 1550 class

The 1550 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1972 and 1976.

Queensland Railways 1550 class
1576 at Helidon in 1987
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm Serial number 72-765 to 72-770 75-802 to 75-811 76-813 to 76-823 Model Electro-Motive Diesel GL22C Build date 1972-1976 Total produced 27 Rebuilder Redbank Railway Workshops Rebuild date 1997-2004 Number rebuilt 25
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 18.04 m (59 ft 2 in) Loco weight 91.8 t (90.4 long tons; 101.2 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel 645E Engine type V12 Diesel engine Aspiration Roots blower Generator Electro-Motive Diesel AR10 Traction motors Electro-Motive Diesel D29 Cylinders 12 Cylinder size ? x ?
Performance figures Power output 1,119 kW (1,501 hp)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 27 Numbers 1550-1576 First run September 1972 Current owner Aurizon Disposition 19 in service as 2300 class 6 in service as 2250 class 2 scrapped

History

The 1550 class were the first locomotives in Queensland to be fitted with low noses. An initial order for 16 locomotives was followed by 11 that were financed by the Queensland Phosphate mining group. The second batch differed in having a lower roofline to give better clearance when operating under wires.^[1][2][3][4]

Two have been scrapped, while between 1997 and 2004, 19 were rebuilt as 2300 class locomotives,^[5][6] and six as 2250 class locomotives at Redbank Railway Workshops.^[7][8]