QPSR operates a selection of steam and diesel locomotives with vintage timber carriages on its weekend operations. Below is a brief insight into each of the locomotives; for more information on the rollingstock, talk to one of our friendly Passenger Service Attendants or our Station Staff and ask how you can purchase a guide book on your trip.
PB15 - 448 RV Armstrong
One of over two hundred locomotives of this class to be purchased by the Queensland Railways, this engine was built by Walkers Ltd. Maryborough, Queensland to the design of locomotive engineer H. Horniblow, and was allocated construction number 91 of 1908. The tender, which is carried on two four wheel bogies carries 4 Ton (4064kg) of coal and 1800 gallons (81231) of water. It was sold to K.R. Hunter's Pioneer Valley Amusement Park after its retirement in August 1970, from where a group of Ipswich and Brisbane enthusiasts purchased it on that venture's failure.
Perry Engineering 0-4-2 "Kilrie"
Built by Perry Engineering of Gawler, South Australia (S/N 265) in November 1924 this tiny locomotive was one of twelve similar units purchased by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria for use on the construction of the Hume Weir on the Murray River near Albury. After use at the Hume Reservoir from 1925 to 1935, it was placed in storage until sold to the Pioneer Sugar Mill near Brandon, Queensland. It was converted from a 0-4-0T to its present 0-4-2T configuration during 1960 and at the same time converted to burn oil. Sold during 1978 to the Australian Narrow Gauge Preservation Society. Kilrie was purchased by QPSR on the 27th of April 2008 thanks to donations made by the Ipswich City Council, Babcock & Brown and Payce. In its time at Swanbank it has been restored to proper working order, reconverted to coal burning and, for reasons of safety and train operation, has also been fitted with a Westinghouse automatic air braking system.
Diesel locomotive 1616 - "Brian Millar"
The eighteen members of the 1600 class diesel electric locomotive were designed and constructed by the English Electric Co. at their Rocklea Brisbane, works. Two contracts were let of which the first was for twelve with a follow on contract for another six. The first batch were delivered between December 1962 and June 1963, with the others arriving between October 1963 and January 1964.
A lengthy delay occurred before delivery owing to the first four being over the design weight. This resulted in numbers 1604 and 1605 being the first to enter service. All others were delivered after the weight problem had been overcome.
The unit at Swanbank is 1616 (construction number A079 of December 1963). It was condemned by the Queensland Railways during April 1991 and was purchased by QPSR in August 1991. Designed for branch line use these units are a hood-type with a full width cab across one end. They are fitted with dual driving stations to permit operation in either direction without the requirement to turn the locomotive
A lengthy delay occurred before delivery owing to the first four being over the design weight. This resulted in numbers 1604 and 1605 being the first to enter service. All others were delivered after the weight problem had been overcome.
The unit at Swanbank is 1616 (construction number A079 of December 1963). It was condemned by the Queensland Railways during April 1991 and was purchased by QPSR in August 1991. Designed for branch line use these units are a hood-type with a full width cab across one end. They are fitted with dual driving stations to permit operation in either direction without the requirement to turn the locomotive
The Timber Coaches
On our Market and Picnic Trains we run our timber set, built between 1885 and 1950 this set of well appointed coaches
Freight and Industrial Machinery
QPSR has amassed a large collection of industrial and freight vehicles to accurately explain what the railways provided to keep the wheels of industry turning