Re: QLD: First Diesels at Cloncurry?

["Mike Quirk" <mjq@interworx.com.au>]

"John McCandless" <johnmc@topend.com.au> wrote in message
3923c77c.0@news.topend.com.au">news:3923c77c.0@news.topend.com.au...
> > > >   "John McCandless" <johnmc@topend.com.au> wrote:
> > > > > Our local historical society is putting on a display at the
upcoming
> > > > > Cloncurry Show (mid-June), and I researching info on Cloncurry's
> > > > railway
> > > > > history.
> > > > >
> > > > > What I am trying to find out is when Cloncurry first started
> receiving
> > > > > diesel engines?
> > > > > I figure it would be in the fifties, as the "Inlander" commenced
> > > > running in
> > > > > February 1952.
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyone able to help?
>  > The Inlander began running on 12 February 1953. At that time 90 ton
DELs
> > were only allowed to operate as far as Charters Towers on the GNR. This
> > limit of working was extended to Hughenden in 1958. The first 60 ton DEL
> > (original No. 1270) did not enter service until 13 January 1956. In that
> > interim period the Inlander was hauled by C17 class locomotives on the
> > western portion of its journey.
> > Similar change of motive power from diesel to steam also occurred at
> Emerald
> > for the Midlander and at Roma for the Westlander trains until sufficient
> 60
> > ton DELs were available.
> > Possibly the first DEL to work to Cloncurry may have been on the
Inlander
> > but it would not have been a (what was later known as) 1150 class as
they
> > were '90 ton' units.
> >
> > Mike
> >
>
> Hmm.... i have a set of photos allegedly showing the last day of steam in
> Cloncurry with the year being 1957.
> That MIGHT tie in with the 1270 class... when did the pawpaws come into
> service?
> Ah, the joys of research, and local stories conflicting with offical
> records!
>
> john.
>
>
According to the Supplement to the January 1965 issue of the ARHS Bulletin,
the last steam hauled train ex Mt Isa ran on 17 November 1964. On 21
November 1964 the only steam engine west of Hughenden was one under repair
at Cloncurry which was to be worked east following completion of that work.
In 1965 the only scheduled steam working on the GNR was the Calcium
limestone trains.
No. 1270 quoted in my earlier post was the first 'pawpaw' and entered
service on 13 January 1956. It was  renumbered to 1500 in anticipation of
the introduction of the 1270 class English Electric DELs and later again to
1170 due to the increasing numbers of 1460 class locomotives.
Hope this info helps.
Mike