Queensland C18 class locomotive

The Queensland Railways C18 class locomotive was a class of 4-8-0 steam locomotives operated by the Queensland Railways.

Queensland Railways C18 class
C18 Class Locomotive No.692 Ipswich Depot
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder North Ipswich Railway Workshops Build date 1914 Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-0 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Length 55 ft 10 in (17.02 m) Fuel type Coal Cylinders 2
Career Operators Queensland Railways Numbers 692-694 Disposition all scrapped

History

In 1914, the Queensland Railways built three locomotives at North Ipswich Railway Workshops. Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the C18 class, C representing they had four driving axles, and the 18 the cylinder diameter in inches.

The class was built to test the merits of superheaters. They were fitted with a saturated boiler (692), Schmidt superheater (693) and Robinson superheater (694). Judged a success, 692 was fitted with a Robinson superheater in December 1916. Further examples were planned with the completion of the North Coast line, but the C19 class were ordered instead.

They originally operated the Sydney Mail from Brisbane to Toowoomba, being extended to Wallangarra in April 1915. From 1918 the operated to Bundaberg and Roma from 1928.

In March 1915, 693 was named Sir William MacGregor and 694 Lady MacGregor after the Governor of Queensland and his wife. All were converted to CC19 class with fitting of 19 inch cylinders in the 1930s.