Re: What happened to the 73 class locos.

[billbolton@REMOVE-TO-EMAILacslink.net.au (Bill Bolton)]

"Barry" <one@microsoft.com> wrote:

> The first conversion was Pleystowe
> Mill's "Walkerston" for the 1995 season. Since then others have been
> converted for Mackay Sugar Coop mills.

John Browning from Rockhampton provided the following list of 73
conversions in the Light Railways mailing list recently....

=======

Yes it is true - the 73 class units are standard gauge locomotives
modified for use on 2ft gauge.  

The examples so far are

Plane Creek Mill - 1
Pleystowe Mill - 1
Marian Mill - 2
Farleigh Mill - 4
Invicta Mill - 5
Total - 13

Nine more of these locos are owned by sugar mills, awaiting
rebuilding, although one of these has been cannibalised for spare
parts.

There is nothing particularly obviously different between these
rebuilds and the 1067mm ex Queensland Government Railways and Western
Australian Government Railways rebuilds.

Some or all of the 73s have had the main frame shortened by about
600mm.  All have small diameter wheels fitted, and have governors to
control possible speed.

===========

Cheers,

Bill

Bill Bolton
Sydney, Australia