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3'6" gauge in 1970 this Diesel Hydraulic locomotive entered service for the Queensland Railways where it remained until withdrawn in 1994.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/hHistoric - Queensland Railways - Diesel Hydraulic locomotive DH59DH59 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive made of steel and metalDH59 Diesel Hydraulic locomotivepuffing billy, diesel-hydraulic locomotive, dh59, dh31, walkers diesel hydraulic, queensland railways