"To promote the appreciation of Queensland's railway heritage and to maintain authenticity in the recording and preservation of this heritage"
DH Class
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DH73 at Salisbury, c1970's. Photo : G. Cash |
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DH11, DH 18, and two unknown DH's. © Paul De Sauty |
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QR DH59 a few years back, possibly near Pinkenba. © Jonathan ????.
Scott Schache tells us that DH-59 was acquired by Puffing Billy and has been regauged to suit. Rob White found a photo of it on another website and it is with the Puffing Billy Railway, Belgrave, Victoria and looking splendid. |
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DH8, 28-May-1986 at Innisfail. © Luke Cossins |
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DH38 entered service on the 7 July 1969 and spent the majority of its working life in the Northern part of the state especially around the Mackay area. Following a major failure – notably a large hole blown in the engine block following a crankcase explosion – the locomotive was withdrawn on 5 July 1991. (G.Lythall)
Here DH38 idles in the "Marsh" (main marshalling yard) at Rockhampton on 22 May 1988 while the crew has a meal break. In the late eighties the newly repainted loco worked in Rockhampton and Mackay. © Bruce Russell 1999
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Subsequently purchased by the ARHS – Qld, DH38 underwent a major restoration involving rebuilding the engine and electrical system as well as having all axles and wheels replaced due to cracks.
Here, it is early morning at Kunkala station on 25 January 1998 as DH38 moves under its own power for the first time since withdrawal. (G.Lythall) |
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DH38 & a consist at Kunkala, 25/3/2005. Photo : J. Cash |
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Control station of DH38 - if you look closely you might see the reflection of the webmaster! 25/3/2005. Photo : J. Cash |
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The DH class of locomotive was introduced in 1966 for shunting duties and to replace the PB15 steam locomotives. As such they were the only class of diesel that was less powerful than the steam locomotives they replaced. The DH class were small 40-ton locomotives featuring a hydraulic drive. The class were highly successful and served in all parts of the state. Because of their hydraulic system they could travel through water up to 8 inches over the rails and were often found working in flooded areas on relief trains. Following withdrawal a number were sold overseas and many were converted to 2ft gauge for use on cane lines. In the Northern part of the state the green colour of the locomotives earned them the nickname of Frogs, while the members of the class later converted for use in the cane fields have earned the nickname of Cane Toads. (G.Lythall)
"Having successfully placed in traffic nine diesel-hydraulic locomotives the stage was now set for Walkers Ltd. to develop a standard range of these machines adaptable for all types of work. Predominantly though, they would be a shunting locomotive, for by 1966 the only large area of steam operation anywhere was in the shunting yards. Thus, Wl was built on speculative basis. Various features of the earlier units could be seen in the locomotive, but a new non-equalised bogie design was utilised. An odd feature was that the radiator was mounted ahead of the cab with intakes in the end of the hood, and an outlet in the roof immediately in front of the cab. This, more than anything else has made DH1 (as Wl became on its acquisition by the Queensland Railways) and its seventy-two sisters unpopular, for the reason that the cab becomes uncomfortably hot. The production units, built under three contracts for fifty-four, fifteen and three respectively, differ from DH1 in that they have overhanging cab roofs, an unencased exhaust and are fitted for multiple unit control. The last three have a different exhaust arrangement again. Many have now been withdrawn, with some being sold and modified for further use on sugar mill tramways
West, A M, 1994, Made in Maryborough - A Pictorial Record of the Railway Rollingstock Produced by Walkers Ltd ., ARHSQ, Brisbane, [p.25].