Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor

Queensland Railways 2000 class railmotor

2000 class on The Savannahlander at Lappa Junction in April 2006
Manufacturer Ipswich Railway Workshops
Commonwealth Engineering
Built at Ipswich
Rocklea
Constructed 1956-71
Number built 42
Number in service 5
Number preserved 24
Number scrapped 11
Fleet numbers 2000-2034, 2036, 2038, 2040, 2051, 2053, 2055, 2057
Capacity 54 passengers
42 passengers (with luggage compartment)
52 passengers (intermediate cars)
Operator(s) Queensland Railways, Aurizon
Specifications
Car length 55 ft (17 m)
Width 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Wheel diameter 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m)
Wheelbase 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Maximum speed 50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight 21.3 t (21.0 long tons; 23.5 short tons) (2000-2001)
22 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons) (2002-2057)
Prime mover(s) 125 hp (93 kW) AEC (2000-2001)
150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce (2002-2057)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 2000 class railcars are a class of self-propelled railcars built by Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea for the Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1971.

History

2000 class rail motors at Helidon in 1987.

In 1956 two 2000 class railmotor prototypes were constructed by Queensland Railways at its Ipswich Railway Workshops sheeted in satin finished aluminium. They were powered by 125 hp (93 kW) AEC engines.[1][2]

In 1959 ten units were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering. These differed from the prototypes in having sheeted stainless steel and 150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce engines. In 1963 a further five were ordered, followed in 1971 by a further ten.[1] The last four were completed as Passenger Luggage Driving Trailers with access doors at both ends instead of a streamlined front, allowing the formation of 3-car (and occasionally 4-car) trains.

They operated services around Brisbane as well as being allocated to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.[2]

Most were withdrawn in the early 1990s, with the last operating in regular service on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line in January 2000.[3]

Queensland Rail retains 11 units - three operate The Savannahlander tourist train,[4] three are operational with the QR Heritage Division (and occasionally used by Queensland Rail for track inspections) and the remainder are stored. Aurizon inherited two units from QR National which are used for track inspections. Many others are preserved,

Summary

Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Scrapped
Number In service Withdrawn Scrapped Current owner Notes
RM2000 10 May 1956 8 April 1987 Queensland Rail Stored
RM2001 21 December 1956 8 April 1987 Queensland Rail Stored
RM2002 12 May 1960 12 November 1988 Private Stored
RM2003 12 May 1960 18 January 1989 June 1996
RM2004 14 July 1960 Aurizon Used for track inspections.
RM2005 14 July 1960 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Stored
RM2006 26 October 1960 30 December 1993 Zig Zag Railway
RM2007 26 October 1960 30 September 1992 Private Stored
RM2008 28 November 1960 7 February 1989 Zig Zag Railway Stored
RM2009 28 November 1960 3 April 1989 Private Stored
RM2010 12 January 1961 2 December 1988 June 1995
RM2011 12 January 1961 1 April 1994 Zig Zag Railway
RM2012 11 February 1961 6 February 1989 Private Body preserved at Boundary Street Markets, West End
RM2013 11 February 1961 29 January 1975 December 1976
RM2014 7 March 1961 13 June 1989 Mount Morgan Railway Museum Static
RM2015 7 March 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2016 30 March 1961 25 June 1991 Zig Zag Railway Burnt in 2013 New South Wales bushfires.
RM2017 30 March 1961 31 December 1993 Mary Valley Heritage Railway Operational
RM2018 5 May 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2019 5 May 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2020 5 June 1961 17 January 1989 Zig Zag Railway
RM2021 5 June 1961 29 March 1989 Private Stored
RM2022 22 March 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2023 22 March 1963 31 December 1993 Mary Valley Heritage Railway Operational
RM2024 26 April 1963 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Stored
RM2025 26 April 1963 7 August 1989 Private Stored
RM2026 10 May 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2027 10 May 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2028 14 June 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2029 14 June 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2030 1 June 1963 9 May 1991 June 1995
RM2031 1 June 1963 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Stored.
RM2032 17 December 1970 Aurizon Used for track inspections.
RM2033 17 December 1970 30 December 1993 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM2034 10 January 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Operational, main line registered. Also used for track inspections.
RM2036 10 January 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Operational, main line registered. Also used for track inspections.
RM2038 20 April 1971 4 January 1994 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM2040 20 April 1971 5 October 1990 June 1995
RM2051 11 February 1971 5 January 1994 Zig Zag Railway
RM2053 11 February 1971 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2055 15 March 1971 1 October 1993 Zig Zag Railway Stored.
RM2057 15 March 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division. Operational, main line registered

References

  1. 1 2 "2000 Class Railmotors" The Workshops Rail Museum 23 October 2003
  2. 1 2 Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2: 1955-1966. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 87–89, 95–100. ISBN 1877058734.
  3. ↑ "QR ICE Set Controversy" Railway Digest March 2000 page 14
  4. ↑ Rollingstock Savannahlander
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