Queensland Railways DH class

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Queensland Railways DH class

| powertype = Diesel-hydraulic

| image = DH 8 - 280586 - Innisfail.jpg

| alt =

| caption = DH8 at Innisfail in May 1986

| builder = Walkers Limited, Maryborough

| ordernumber =

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| buildmodel = GH500

| builddate = 1966-1974

| totalproduction = 73

| rebuilder =

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| Britishclass = B-B

| uicclass = B′B′

| gauge = {{track gauge|3ft6in|lk=on}}

| trucks =

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| length = {{convert|12.65|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

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| locoweight = {{convert|37|t|abbr=on}}

| fueltype = Diesel

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| primemover = Caterpillar D355E

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| transmission = Voith L42U2

| multipleworking =

| maxspeed = {{convert|50|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = {{convert|347|kW|hp|-1|abbr=on}}

| tractiveeffort = {{convert|114|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}

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| operator = Queensland Railways

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| numinclass = 73

| fleetnumbers = DH1-DH73

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| firstrundate = 1966

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| preservedunits = DH2, DH5, DH14, DH37, DH38, DH45, DH59, DH71, DH72, DH73

| restoredate =

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| currentowner = Vietnam Railways, Puffing Billy Railway, Walhalla Goldfields Railway

| disposition =

}}

File:Sugar locomotive Giru.jpg

The DH class is a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1966 and 1974.

History

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.{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s – 1980s|year=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-730100-05-7|page=244}} 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.[https://sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattrains/Home/historical-diesel-locos/dh-class DH Class] Queensland's Great Trains[http://www.qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/diesel/qrnational/walkerscaterpillar-dh-class Walkers/Caterpillar DH Class] Queensland's Railway Interest Group

29 were rebuilt to {{track gauge|610mm|lk=on}} gauge for use at sugar mills around Queensland.
4 were rebuilt to {{track gauge|900mm|lk=on}} gauge for use on the Yallourn 900mm Railway in Victoria, and subsequently converted to {{track gauge|610mm|lk=on}} gauge for use at sugar mills in Queensland.
13 were exported to Vietnam and 2 to Malaysia as large diesel shunters for use on {{track gauge|1000mm|lk=on}} gauge.

Preservation

DH2 is retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage division. Privately owned DH71 is also on site.

DH14 was used at Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Is stored due to trains not running.

In 1995, DH59 was purchased by the Puffing Billy Railway, which operates in Victoria. It was re-gauged to {{track gauge|762mm}}, reclassified as DH31, and is used as a replacement for steam locomotives on days of total fire ban.[http://pbps.puffingbilly.com.au/rolling-stock/locomotive-fleet/other-puffing-billy-locomotives/ Other Puffing Billy Locomotives] Puffing Billy Preservation Society It has since been joined by DH5.

As of 2017, DH31 is currently re-numbered back to its original DH59.

In 2010, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway in Victoria purchased DH37. The locomotive is stored on a section of {{track gauge|1067mm}} track in the Walhalla yard, awaiting re-gauging to the Walhalla Railway's {{track gauge|762mm|lk=on}} gauge. In June 2012, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway also bought DH72, which will also be stored until funds are available to re-gauge it to {{track gauge|762mm|disp=1}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11368753.htm|title= DH72 heading south to join DH37 in Walhalla|publisher=Railpage Australia|access-date=2012-06-11}}

DH38 spent the majority of its working life in the Northern part of the state, especially around the Mackay area. Following a major failure – notably a large hole blown in the engine block following a crankcase explosion – the locomotive was withdrawn on 5 July 1991. After purchase by the ARHS Qld, DH38 underwent a major restoration involving rebuilding the engine and electrical system as well as having all axles and wheels replaced due to cracks.

Privately owned DH45 is currently leased, since 2015, to Southern Downs Steam Railway as a backup for SDSR's C17 steam locomotive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdsr.org.au/dh45-diesel-hydraulic-locomotive/|title=DH45 Diesel hydraulic locomotive {{!}} SDSR|last=Enklo|date=2018-11-27|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-17}}

DH73 has been acquired by DownerEDi Marybrough to be used as a shunting locomotive. It is named Hugh Boge.{{Cite web|last=Dominah|title=Downer EDi restores train, names it after former manager|url=https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/hugh-boge-spent-most-of-his-life-working-at-downer/2490181/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Fraser Coast Chronicle|language=en}} dead link

Status table of preserved locomotives

class="wikitable sortable"

!Number

!Name

!In service

!Withdrawn

!Notes

DH2

|1968-07-27

|1991-04-03

|Stored, Queensland Rail Heritage Division, dismantled, awaiting restoration at Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich

DH5

|1968-08-27

|1992-07-07

|Operational, Re-gauged to {{track gauge|762mm}}, at Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria

DH14

|Roger Vale

|1968-11-18

|1993-03-23

|Stored, in good condition, at Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory

DH37

|1969-06-27

|1994-02-14

(Moved into Departmental service as MMY037)

|Stored, Awaiting re-gauging to {{track gauge|762mm}}, at Walhalla Goldfields Railway, Victoria

DH38

|1969-07-07

|1991-07-05

|Operational at Kunkala, Rosewood Railway Museum

DH41

|1969-08-XX

|Under restoration by DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum at Drayton on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Purchased in full from Bundaberg Sugar by the DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum in September 2024.

DH45

|1969-09-09

|1994-02-14

(Moved into Departmental service as MMY045)

|Operational, Privately owned, is currently leased, since 2015, to Southern Downs Steam Railway.

DH59

|1970-05-19

|1991-05-20

|Operational, Re-gauged to {{track gauge|762mm}}, at Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria

DH71

|1973-12-07

|1992-01-23