Queensland Railways 1270 class

The 1270 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1964 and 1966.

Queensland Railways 1270 class
1270 and 1281 in Auchenflower in November 1985
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Build date 1964–1966 Total produced 30
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Loco weight 85 t (84 long tons; 94 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Prime mover English Electric 12SVT Mk II RPM range 450–850 Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration turbocharged Generator English Electric 822 Traction motors English Electric 525 (1270-1281) English Electric 548 (1282-1299) Cylinders 12 vee
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph) Power output 1,145 kW (1,540 hp) Tractive effort 272 kN (61,000 lbf) (1270-1281) 300 kN (67,000 lbf) (1282-1299)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 30 Numbers 1270-1299 First run 1964 Last run 1989 Preserved 1270, 1281 Disposition 2 preserved, 28 scrapped

History

1281 Century at the Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich in October 2011

The 1270 class was devised by English Electric engineer Stan Lyons, based on the body design of North American road switcher but using the same engine and generator as the 1250 class. The first 12 units had the same English Electric 525 traction motors as the 1250 class. The remaining units had improved English Electric 548 traction motors with a slightly higher tractive effort. The final six units had dynamic brakes.^[1]

In 1965, 1281 was named Century and painted in a commemorative gold and white livery to mark the centenary of the first railway in Queensland.^[2]

They were used on grain trains between the Darling Downs and Brisbane, ore trains on the Mount Isa line and coal trains on the Moura line.^[3] With higher power diesel locomotives becoming available in the 1970s, the 1270s were moved to general freight.^[2]

Withdrawal & disposal

The 1270 class were displaced from coal traffic with the electrification of coalfields lines from 1986.^[1] All were withdrawn between 1987 and 1989. Two units were retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division^[2][4] and the remainder were scrapped.

Fleet summary

Number	Serial number	In service	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Notes
1270	A.092	26 October 1964	24 November 1988		Queensland Rail Heritage Division, stored
1271	A.090	9 November 1964	19 January 1989	October 1991
1272	A.091	23 November 1964	18 November 1989	January 1992
1273	A.093	7 December 1964	8 November 1988	October 1991
1274	A.094	21 December 1964	18 January 1989	October 1991
1275	A.095	7 January 1965	30 December 1988	September 1991
1276	A.098	23 April 1965	17 January 1989	November 1991
1277	A.099	30 April 1965	23 January 1989	November 1991
1278	A.100	13 May 1965	17 November 1988	September 1991
1279	A.101	21 May 1965	19 November 1988	November 1991
1280	A.102	22 June 1965	18 November 1988	November 1991
1281	A.103	30 July 1965	4 January 1989		Named Century. Queensland Rail Heritage Division, Workshops Rail Museum
1282	A.108	6 November 1964	17 November 1987	October 1991
1283	A.113	21 February 1966	29 October 1988	November 1991
1284	A.107	7 December 1965	21 November 1988	October 1991
1285	A.106	26 November 1965	31 October 1988	January 1992
1286	A.112	4 February 1966	16 January 1989	October 1991
1287	A.115	18 March 1966	30 December 1988	November 1991
1288	A.114	7 April 1966	21 November 1988	October 1991
1289	A.117	22 April 1966	22 December 1988	October 1991
1290	A.119	29 April 1966	14 November 1988	November 1991
1291	A.120	13 May 1966	25 September 1989	November 1991
1292	A.122	3 June 1966	17 November 1988	November 1991
1293	A.123	10 June 1966	16 November 1988	January 1992
1294	A.126	17 June 1966	22 December 1988	October 1991
1295	A.127	1 July 1966	4 January 1989	September 1991
1296	A.128	15 July 1966	5 April 1988	October 1991
1297	A.129	28 July 1966	10 August 1987	December 1989
1298	A.130	12 August 1966	16 January 1989	November 1991
1299	A.131	12 August 1966	21 January 1988	October 1991

References

1. Oberg, Leon (2007). Locomotives of Australia: 1850s-2007. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 332–333. ISBN 978-1877058547.
2. English Electric 1270 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group
3. 1270 Class Queensland's Great Trains
4. Diesel Locomotives Association of Tourist Railways Queensland 13 March 2011