QLD 1600 CLASS

Website: Brad Peadon 

Lists: Bradly Coulter

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January 2026

The Queensland Rail 1600 class were early-1960s diesel-electric locomotives built by English Electric at Rocklea to help replace steam on Queensland’s quieter branch lines. Eighteen were built between 1962 and 1964 for the 3 ft 6 in narrow gauge, numbered 1600 to 1617, and they quickly became regular sights across rural Queensland.

Powered by an English Electric 6CSRKT Mk II engine producing about 838 horsepower, the 1600s were never meant for glamour work. With a top speed of around 80 km/h, they handled branch line freight, passenger trains, and general duties from depots like Roma and Alpha, doing exactly what was asked of them with minimal fuss.

All were withdrawn by 1991, but the class has fared well in preservation. Five locomotives survive, several still operational, quietly representing the practical, no-nonsense dieselisation of Queensland Rail’s country lines.

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1600 CLASS
Road Numbers	1600 - 1617
Builder	English Electric, Rocklea
Model	RSE92C
Engine	EE 6CSRKT MkII
Gauge	Narrow 1067mm
Wheels	Co-Co
Power	925HP (690kW)
Length	12421mm
Mass	61.5t

Loco	Build #	Entry	Owner	Staus
1600	A-061	Jan-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1601	A-062	Jan-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1602	A-063	Jan-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1603	A-064	Feb-63	QR Heritage	Preserved
1604	A-059	Dec-62	Bellarine	Preserved
1605	A-060	Dec-62	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1606	A-065	Feb-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1607	A-066	Feb-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1608	A-067	Apr-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1609	A-070	Apr-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1610	A-071	May-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1611	A-072	Jun-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1612	A-075	Oct-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1613	A-076	Nov-63	Longreach	Preserved
1614	A-077	Nov-63	ARHS	Preserved
1615	A-078	Dec-63	Queensland Rail	Scrapped
1616	A-079	Dec-63	Pioneer Steam	Preserved
1617	A-080	Jan-64	Queensland Rail	Scrapped

1600

1601

1602

1603

1604

1605

1606

1607

1608

1609

1610

1611

1612

1613

1614

1615

1616

1617

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VIC F CLASS

 

Website: Brad Peadon 

Lists: Bradly Coulter

Photos: Both Brads.

December 2025

The Victorian Railways F class were the railway equivalent of a pocket knife: small, sturdy, not very fast, and absolutely indispensable if you were trying to get anything done in a yard. Introduced in the early 1950s, they were Victoria’s first proper step into diesel traction, quietly elbowing steam shunters aside without any of the drama or romance people like to associate with progress. Built by the Dick Kerr Works in the UK, they arrived as squat little 0-6-0 diesel-electrics with about 350 horsepower—hardly headline material, but more than enough to shuffle wagons around depots all day without complaining or stopping for water.

They spent their lives doing the unglamorous jobs: pottering about places like Spencer Street, Geelong and Bendigo, rearranging rollingstock while everyone else got the credit. With a top speed that suggested they were in no hurry whatsoever, they were never meant to escape the yard fence, and frankly looked offended at the idea. Over the years they wore just about every livery Victorian Railways could think of—black, red and yellow, blue and gold, even V/Line orange—like a shunter playing dress-ups while still smelling faintly of oil and brake dust.

Some were later joined by near-identical cousins from the State Electricity Commission, proving that even power stations thought these things were handy. They soldiered on into the 1980s, long after newer locomotives had arrived with more horsepower, better looks and worse attitudes. A few have survived into preservation, still trundling about museums and heritage yards, where they continue to demonstrate that you don’t need speed, glamour or prestige to be useful—just traction, reliability, and a willingness to do the boring work forever.

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F CLASS	VR
Road Numbers	F310 - F319 / F201-F216
Builder	Dick Kerr Works, Preston UK
Model	N/A
Engine	EE 6KT
Gauge	Broad
Wheels	C
Power	350HP (260kW)
Length	9340mm
Mass	49t

Loco	Build #	Date	W/Drawn	Owner	Staus	Livery	Orig. #
F201	1754	11/18/1951	12/1/1983	V/Line	Scrapped	VR Blue	F310
F202	1755	9/6/1951		VicTrack	Stored	VR Blue	F311
F203	1756	11/23/1951	00/10/1983	V/Line	Scrapped	VR Blue	F312
F204	1757	10/31/1951	00/04/1981	707 Ops	Stored	VR Blue	F313
F205	1758	10/3/1951	00/06/1981	V/Line	Scrapped 11/1986	VR Blue	F314
F206	1759	9/23/1951	00/06/1981	Vic Rail	Scrapped 6/1981	VR Blue	F315
F207	1760	10/7/1951	00/12/1981	V/Line	Scrapped 11/1986	VR Blue	F316
F208	1761	12/2/1951		707 Ops	Operational	Black	F317
F209	1762	11/27/1951	00/12/1980	V/Line	Scrapped 11/1986	VR Blue	F318
F210	1763	2/23/1953	00/11/1979	Vic Rail	Scrapped 7/1981	VR Blue	F319
F211	1808	3/23/1953	00/09/1986	Newport Museum	Static Display	V/Line	SEC3
F212	1915	4/15/1953	00/11/1986	CMR	Operational	VR Blue	SEC4
F213	1916	4/12/1953	00/04/1981	V/Line	Scrapped	VR Blue	SEC5
F214	1917	4/29/1953	00/10/1979	Vic Rail	Scrapped 6/1981	VR Blue	SEC6
F215	1806	1/18/1952	00/04/1983	V/Line	Scrapped	VR Blue	SEC1
F216	1807	1/29/1952		Newport Museum	Static Display	Green	SEC2

F201

F202

F203

F204

F205

F206

F207

F208

F209

F210

F211

F212

F213

F214

F215

F216

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