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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All were withdrawn by 1991, but the class has fared well in preservation.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
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1610
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1611
1612
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1614
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1615
1616
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1617
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