Queensland B12 class locomotive

The Queensland Railways B12 class locomotive was a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways.

Queensland Railways B12 class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kitson & Co (12) Avonside Engine Company (3) Dübs & Co (6) Neilson and Company (2) North Ipswich Railway Workshops (2) Build date 1874-1882 Total produced 25
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-0 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 3 ft 3 in (991 mm) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 120 lbf/in2 (827 kPa) Cylinders 2 outside Cylinder size 12 in × 20 in (305 mm × 508 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Career Operators Queensland Railways Disposition 3 preserved, 22 scrapped

History

The B12 class were built by a number of manufacturers for the Queensland Railways between 1874 and 1882. Originally classified the E class, per Queensland Railway's classification system they were redesignated the B12 class in 1890, B representing they had three driving axles, and the 12 the cylinder diameter in inches.^[1][2]

All were withdrawn from Queensland Railways service by July 1929 and most were scrapped, however the remains of number 28 are derelict at Normanton and components of number 40 are at Cooktown.^[2][3][4]

Number 31 was sold to the Aramac Shire Tramway in 1911 and remained in service until 1939. Although it was condemned and copper in the boiler sold for scrap, the remainder of the locomotive remained largely intact until 1963. The boiler is now privately owned and stored at Kallangur. The remainder of the locomotive and tender are still at Aramac.^[5]

B12 locomotive with passenger carriage.jpg

Class list

Builder Works number Southern & Western Railway number Central Railway number Queensland Railways number In service Notes Kitson & Co 1986 23 23 July 1875 Condemned May 1915 Kitson & Co 1987 24 24 April 1875 Condemned September 1918 Kitson & Co 1988 4 136 December 1874 Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway November 1898, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned July 1927 Kitson & Co 1989 25 25 April 1875 Condemned May 1921 Kitson & Co 1990 26 26 July 1875 October 1922 Kitson & Co 1991 27 27 June 1875 Condemned April 1926 Kitson & Co 1992 5 137 July 1875 Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway November 1898, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned October 1922 Kitson & Co 1993 6 138 October 1875 Sold to Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway January 1901, reacquired with tramway December 1911, condemned July 1922 Kitson & Co 2042 28 28 October 1876 Transferred to Normanton Railway 1901, condemned February 1928. Currently derelict at Normanton.[6] Kitson & Co 2043 29 29 September 1876 Condemned June 1921 Kitson & Co 2044 30 30 October 1876 Kitson & Co 2045 7 139 Avonside Engine Company 1179 31 31 November 1877 Condemned December 1911, sold to Aramac Shire Tramway. The tender, wheels and frame are currently preserved at Aramac. The boiler shells, wheels and cylinders are privately owned at Kallangur.[7] Avonside Engine Company 1180 32 32 November 1877 Condemned June 1921 Avonside Engine Company 1181 33 33 November 1877 Condemned June 1922 North Ipswich Railway Workshops 2 34 34 August 1878 North Ipswich Railway Workshops 3 35 35 November 1878 Sold to Beaudesert Shire Tramway September 1902 Neilson and Company 2275 12 140 September 1878 Condemned November 1902 Neilson and Company 2276 13 141 December 1878 Condemned November 1902 Dübs & Co 1136 40 40 September 1878 Condemned February 1928. A tender and two wheel sets are preserved at the former Cooktown Rail site.[8] Dübs & Co 1137 14 142 February 1879 Dübs & Co 1604 15 15 October 1882 Dübs & Co 1605 16 16 October 1882 Condemned July 1925 Dübs & Co 1606 18 18 October 1882 Condemned July 1929 Dübs & Co 1607 17 17 March 1889 Sold to contractor Garget & Co, repurchased March 1889, condemned December 1920

References

1. B12 class Queensland's Railways Information Group
2. Armstrong, John (1985). Locomotives in the Tropics Volume 1. Brisbane: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 21, 22, 95, 96. ISBN 0-909937-13-3.
3. Knowles, John (1983). Lonely Rails in the Gulf. The Story of the Normanton-Croydon Railway, Queensland. Brisbane: John Knowles. p. 13. ISBN 0-9593651-1-7.
4. B12 No 28 Australian Steam
5. B12 No 31 Australian Steam
6. "Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - B12 No.28". www.australiansteam.com. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
7. "Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - B12 No.31". www.australiansteam.com. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
8. "Preserved Steam Locomotives Down Under - Cooktown". www.australiansteam.com. Retrieved 4 December 2019.