"To promote the appreciation of Queensland's railway heritage and to maintain authenticity in the recording and preservation of this heritage"
DL Class
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Shortly into its fourth year, the Rosewood Railway Museum came of age in that on Thursday 18 February 1988 delivery was taken of Diesel Mechanical Locomotive DL 3 "Mt Surprise". The locomotive was loaded onto a tip-tray tri-axle truck at Ipswich Workshops on that morning and unloaded at Kunkala in the afternoon. Loading was assisted by DEL 1174 and unloading proceeded relatively uneventfully at the occupational crossing near Keates' Dam in Kunkala yards. The road journey must have been the fastest journey DL-3 had ever experienced.
After initial checks DL-3 was "passed for traffic" and after brake tests it and C-828 (ex Mulgrave Tramway Car) departed Kunkala at approximately 2pm for cutting 15 (500 metres short of Cabanda). This was the limit of track cleared for DL-3 operation by the Permanent Way Supervisor John McDonald. Driver Nev Spillane and other qualified Rosewood Railway Museum volunteers officiated as cabin crew for the inaugural run. A photo-stop and photo-run were organised for the S bend whilst spirited running up-grade on the long straight (bank 17) was enjoyed by those who were present for this momentous occasion. It was a "massive" piece of traction equipment for the railway at that time. DL-3 is approximately 18 tonnes in weight, is 6.55 metres long (21 feet, 6 inches), and develops over 31 kN (7000 lbs) tractive effort at 1200 rpm from a 114kW (153 hp) 6 cylinder Gardner diesel engine. It was built by Walkers of Marybrough (Builders No. 571) and entered service in 1960. It was built with three others to operate on the Forsayth line. All DL locomotives had names along with the numbers. DL-1 was built some years earlier as the demonstration model. There were only four DL (Diesel Mechanical) locomotives built for QR. |
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DL1, 13-Aug-1986 at Rosewood. © Luke Cossins |
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DL1, 13-Aug-1986 at Rosewood. © Luke Cossins |
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DL4, Almaden , 27-May-1986 at Townsville. © Luke Cossins |
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The age of diesel power on Queensland rail began with the repowering of many of the system's old railmotors. In 1938 QR took up the cudgel and designed and built a diesel mechanical locomotive numbered DL-1. The locomotive was designed for use on the Forsyth line in the far North of the State where light track built straight onto the ground was common. The locomotive weighed in at 17 Ton 10 cwt and produced 153hp. The design was hugely successful and DL1 remained in service until 1989 and was then preserved by QR. However no further diesel locomotives were contemplated until the 1950's when plans were introduced to dieselise the states rail system. G.Lythall
