Queensland Railways 1300 class

The 1300 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by English Electric, Rocklea for Queensland Rail between 1967 and 1972. They were later sold to AN Tasrail.

Queensland Railways 1300 class
1312 at Eagle Junction in December 1986
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Build date 1967–1972 Total produced 45
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m) Wheelbase 38 ft (11.582 m) total, 11 ft 10+1⁄2 in (3.620 m) bogie Length 48 ft (14.630 m) over headstocks Width 9 ft 3 in (2.819 m) Height 12 ft 4+1⁄2 in (3.772 m) over cab Axle load 15 long tons (15.2 t; 16.8 short tons) Loco weight 88.4 long tons (89.8 t; 99.0 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,000 imp gal (4,500 L) (1300-1319) Prime mover English Electric 12CSVT Mk II RPM range 850rpm max Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration turbocharged, intercooled Generator English Electric 822/16J Traction motors English Electric 548 Cylinders 12 Vee Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm) MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle Loco brake Air, dynamic Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Power output 1,950 hp (1,450 kW) gross, 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) net Tractive effort 60,000 lbf (266.9 kN)
Career Operators Queensland Railways Number in class 45 Numbers 1300–1344 First run 9 October 1967 Preserved 1318 Current owner Launceston & North East Railway Disposition 6 stored, 1 preserved, 4 exported, 35 scrapped

History

The 1300 class was an upgraded version of the 1270 class with more powerful engines and larger fuel tanks.

The class was primarily used on the Blackwater and Moura coal lines and based at Gladstone. The class became surplus following electrification of the coal lines in 1986–1987.

In 1988, the entire class was sold to AN Tasrail where they became the ZC class. They were renumbered consecutively, 1300 becoming ZC1 and 1344 becoming ZC45, although 12 units were only used as a source of spare parts. Most had very short working lives with just 13 remaining in service by 1995 and only six by 1997.

Ten of the ZC class were sold to Morrison-Knudsen Australia in April 1994, with eight rebuilt with new cabs as the MKA class at its Whyalla factory. Two were operated on the BHP Whyalla Steelworks network from February 1995, before being exported to Senegal. MKA1-4 saw service in Malaysia before returning to Australia. These along with the unused two were purchased by Pacific National in 2004 with MKA1-3 returning to Queensland and the others to Tasmania. By 2007, all six were in service in Tasmania renumbered in the 2130 series.

TasRail 2137 near Cornelian Bay in August 2013

With the privatisation of Australian National, AN Tasrail was sold to the Australian Transport Network, with the seven remaining ZCs becoming the 2140 class. Most stored units were scrapped and the last was withdrawn in 2004. In February 2004, Pacific National purchased Australian Transport Network, including four stored 2140 class locomotives. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia purchased 2142 and 2143 for a proposed tourist service, they were later sold to Senegal. In September 2009, TasRail was sold back to the Government of Tasmania. TasRail sold three of the remaining stored locos for scrap in 2012 and donated 2144 (formerly ZC19 and 1318) to Diesel Traction Tasmania, now known as Launceston & North East Railway, for preservation.

ZC 19 finally entered full preservation on the 19th of May 2021 after being trucked to L&NER’s Lilydale yard. A week shy of ZC 19’s ten year anniversary of its donation by TasRail. MKA8 would be donated to the L&NER in February 2024.

Fleet summary

Key:	In Service	Withdrawn	Preserved	Scrapped

QR number	Serial number	In service	Withdrawn by QR	ANR number	MKA number	ATN/PN/TasRail number	Withdrawn	Scrapped	Notes
1300	A.162	9 October 1967	3 November 1988	ZC1
1301	A.163	1 November 1967	2 August 1988
1302	A.164
1303	A.162
1304	A.168			ZC5
1305	A.170			ZC6
1306	A.172			ZC7
1307	A.175			ZC8
1308	A.176			ZC9		2140		2012
1309	A.177			ZC10
1310	A.181			ZC11		2141		2012
1311	A.183
1312	A.185			ZC13
1313	A.188			ZC14
1314	A.189			ZC15
1315	A.192			ZC16
1316	A.195			ZC17		2142
1317	A.198					2143
1318	A.201			ZC19		2144			To Diesel Traction Tasmania. Now Launceston & North East Railway
1319	A.200			ZC20		2145		2012
1320	A.208			ZC21	MKA4	2134
1321	A.209			ZC22	MKA6				Exported to Senegal.
1322	A.210
1323	A.211			ZC24
1324	A.212
1325	A.213			ZC26	MKA3	2133
1326	A.214			ZC27	MKA7	2137
1327	A.215			ZC28
1328	A.216			ZC29
1329	A.217				MKA2	2132
1330	A.223			ZC31	MKA8	2138
1331	A.224			ZC32
1332	A.225				MKA1	2131
1333	A.226			ZC34
1334	A.227			ZC35
1335	A.228
1336	A.229			ZC37
1337	A.230			ZC38
1338	A.231			ZC39
1339	A.233
1340	A.234			ZC41	MKA5				Exported to Senegal.
1341	A.235			ZC42		2146		2012
1342	A.245			ZC43
1343	A.246			ZC44
1344	A.247			ZC45