DH59 - Diesel Hydraulic locomotive (formerly DH 31), 1970

Historical information

DH31 - DH59 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive
Built to 3'6" gauge in 1970 this Diesel Hydraulic locomotive entered service for the Queensland Railways where it remained until withdrawn in 1994. Purchased by the E.T.R.B. in 1995, it was converted to 2'6" gauge in Queensland and transported to Belgrave in 1996 for overhaul. It re-entered service later in 1996, although instead of receiving a V.R. type classification & number and V.R. style livery, it retained its Q.R. number of DH59 and its Q.R. livery minus the Q.R. logo, but has since been repainted the traditional Blue & Gold of V.R. diesel locomotives and reclassified DH31. It has since been returned to DH 59.

The DH class was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1966 and 1974.
In 1966 Queensland Railways tested a Walkers Limited built diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. This was later purchased and by 1974 the 73 DH class locomotives had taken over shunting duties in most Queensland yards. They were also used on short distance freight services. With the closure of many freight yards and the move to longer trains withdrawals started in the 1980s. Many were sold for further use on Queensland sugar cane railways.

Locomotive's Queensland Railways Service History :
Locomotive : DH59 Serial No: 646 In Service : 19/05/1970 With drawn from Service : 20/05/1991

LOCOMOTIVE DETAILS
DH class
No. originally constructed : 74
No. in service : 2
No. stored :
Wheel arrangement : Bo-BoDH
Roadworthy weight : 40T
Maximum axle load : 10T
Tractive effort (85%)
Length overall: 33'
Height overall : 12' 6 1⁄2"
Driving wheel diameter : 36"
Date of manufacture :1970
Manufacturer :Walkers
Place of manufacture : Maryborough, Queensland
Locomotive type : Diesel Hydraulic

DH Class
Type Diesel-Hydraulic
Introduced 1966
Number in class 73
Manufacturer Walkers
Gauge Narrow (QR, MIM)
900mm (SECV)
Axles B-B
Length 11.1 m
Mass 37 t
Engine Caterpillar D355E
Transmission Voith L42U2
Power 347 kW / 465 HP
Tractive effort 114 / 82 kN
Speed 50 / 10 km/h

Significance

Historic - Queensland Railways - Diesel Hydraulic locomotive DH59

Physical description

DH59 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive
made of steel and metal

Inscriptions & markings

DH59 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive

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