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Queensland Railways 2000 class rail motor

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Queensland Railways 2000 class railmotor
2000 class on a railtour to Toowoomba in September 2018
In service1956 - Present
ManufacturerNorth Ipswich Railway Workshops
Commonwealth Engineering
Built atIpswich
Rocklea
Constructed1956-1971
Number built42
Number in service5
Number preserved22
Number scrapped15
FormationUp to four cars
Fleet numbers2000-2034, 2036, 2038, 2040, 2051, 2053, 2055, 2057
Capacity54 passengers
42 passengers (with luggage compartment)
52 passengers (intermediate cars)
OperatorsQueensland Railways, Aurizon
DepotsCurrent:

Edge Hill (Cairns), Longreach, Ipswich Workshops

Former:

Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mayne, Redbank, Ipswich, Toowoomba
Specifications
Car length55 ft (17 m)
Width8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
EntryPlatform level and step
Doors2
Wheel diameter2 ft 6 in (0.76 m)
Wheelbase6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight21.3 t (21.0 long tons; 23.5 short tons) (2000-2001)
22 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons) (2002-2057)
Axle load5.5 TAL
Prime mover(s)125 hp (93 kW) AEC (2000-2001)
150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce (2002-2057)
Coupling systemScrew and Hook, Emergency attachable coupler
Multiple workingWithin Class
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 2000 class railcars are a class of self-propelled railcars built by Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea for the Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1971.

History

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2000 class rail motors at Helidon in 1987.

In 1956, two 2000 class railmotor prototypes were constructed by Queensland Railways at its Ipswich Railway Workshops sheeted in satin finished aluminium. They were powered by 125 hp (93 kW) AEC engines.[1][2]

In 1959, ten units were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering. These differed from the prototypes in having sheeted stainless steel and 150 hp (110 kW) Rolls-Royce engines. In 1963, a further five were ordered, followed in 1971 by a further ten.[1] The last four were completed as Passenger Luggage Driving Trailers with access doors at both ends instead of a streamlined front, allowing the formation of three-car (and occasionally four-car) trains.

They operated services around Brisbane as well as being allocated to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.[2]

Most were withdrawn in the early 1990s, with the last operating in regular service on the Corinda-Yeerongpilly line in January 2000.[3]

Queensland Rail retains nine units, of which three operate The Savannahlander tourist train,[4] three are operational with the QR Heritage Division (and occasionally used by Queensland Rail for track inspections) and three are stored at Ipswich Workshops. Aurizon inherited two units from QR National which are used for track inspections. These units are now with DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum.[5] Many others are preserved.

In October 2022, two units were road transferred from Ipswich to Longreach for Outback Aussie Tours for their upcoming “Outback Rail Adventure” tours.[6][7]

Summary

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Key: In Service Withdrawn Preserved Scrapped
Number In service Withdrawn Scrapped Current owner Notes
RM2000 10 May 1956 8 April 1987 Some time after 2004 Prototype Cars
RM2001 21 December 1956 8 April 1987 Some time after 2004 Prototype Cars
RM2002 12 May 1960 12 November 1988 Private Stored
RM2003 12 May 1960 18 January 1989 June 1996
RM2004 14 July 1960 DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum[5] Operational, formerly operated by Aurizon
RM2005 14 July 1960 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Stored
RM2006 26 October 1960 30 December 1993 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM2007 26 October 1960 30 September 1992 Private Stored
RM2008 28 November 1960 7 February 1989 Zig Zag Railway Stored
RM2009 28 November 1960 3 April 1989 Private Stored
RM2010 12 January 1961 2 December 1988 June 1995
RM2011 12 January 1961 1 April 1994 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM2012 11 February 1961 6 February 1989 Private Body preserved at Station Road Cafe, Station Road Yeerongpilly.
RM2013 11 February 1961 29 January 1975 December 1976
RM2014 7 March 1961 13 June 1989 Mount Morgan Railway Museum Operational
RM2015 7 March 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2016 30 March 1961 25 June 1991 2018 Zig Zag Railway Burnt in 2013 New South Wales bushfires.
RM2017 30 March 1961 31 December 1993 Mary Valley Rattler Operational
RM2018 5 May 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2019 5 May 1961 20 January 1989 June 1995
RM2020 5 June 1961 17 January 1989 Zig Zag Railway Stored
RM2021 5 June 1961 29 March 1989 Private Stored
RM2022 22 March 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2023 22 March 1963 31 December 1993 Mary Valley Rattler Operational
RM2024 26 April 1963 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Under restoration at Atherton - Herberton Historic Railway
RM2025 26 April 1963 7 August 1989 Private Stored
RM2026 10 May 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2027 10 May 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2028 14 June 1963 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2029 14 June 1963 30 December 1993 June 1995
RM2030 1 June 1963 9 May 1991 June 1995
RM2031 1 June 1963 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division Under restoration at Atherton - Herberton Historic Railway
RM2032 17 December 1970 DownsSteam Tourist Railway & Museum[5] Operational, formerly operated by Aurizon
RM2033 17 December 1970 30 December 1993 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM2034 10 January 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Leased to Outback Aussie Tours to operate the Longreach based Outback Rail Adventure
RM2036 10 January 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Leased to Outback Aussie Tours to operate the Longreach based Outback Rail Adventure
RM2038 20 April 1971 4 January 1994 Australian Railway Historical Society Rosewood Railway Museum
RM2040 20 April 1971 5 October 1990 June 1995
RM2051 11 February 1971 5 January 1994 Zig Zag Railway Repairs in progress
RM2053 11 February 1971 Queensland Rail Leased to Cairns Kuranda Steam to operate the Savannahlander
RM2055 15 March 1971 1 October 1993 2018 Zig Zag Railway Burnt in 2013 bushfires
RM2057 15 March 1971 1 July 2000 Queensland Rail Heritage Division. Operational, has received a new engine and some new internal modifications; including Disabled Access and Toilet facilities. Main line registered

References

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  1. ^ a b "2000 Class Railmotors" The Workshops Rail Museum 23 October 2003
  2. ^ a b Dunn, John (2010). Comeng: A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2: 1955-1966. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 87–89, 95–100. ISBN 1877058734.
  3. ^ "QR ICE Set Controversy" Railway Digest March 2000 page 14
  4. ^ Rollingstock Archived 24 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Savannahlander
  5. ^ a b c "The Commissioner – DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum". Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ "ORA Rail Motor Relocations". Outback Aussie Tours. 22 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  7. ^ "'Never dreamt of this': Historic train arrives at new outback home". ABC News. 11 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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