Carriage BLH522

Current Status: Operational – Leased from QR Heritage
Built: tbc
Retired: n/a
Type: 2nd Class carriage with Lavatory (30 2nd Class seats)
Weight: 22.6t
Length: 16.200m
Width: 2.665m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

An inside view of one of the ‘Kuranda Cars’

This carriage is a current operational carriage owned by Qld Rail Heritage. It features a 27 seats, a side isle, refreshment compartment, lavatory and end platforms.

Before coming to SDSR, it was part of Qld Rail’s Cairns Kuranda Scenic Rail fleet of carriages. SDSR has been extremely privileged to be able to use this carriage as a regular on it’s heritage services since 2009.

Carriage BLV 1076

Current Status: 30% Restored
Built: 1920
Retired: 1988
Type: Composite and Guards Van (17 First class seats + 16 Economy seats)
Weight: 20.4t
Length: 12.215m
Width: 2.620m
Gauge: 1,065 mm gauge (3ft 6in)

Composite and Guards Van BLV 1076 built in 1920, was retired from service in 1988, and moved to a local property in Warwick before being donated to the SDSR in 2000.

This carriage was received in a very poor state and needed a replacement set of bogies. The new bogies under this carriage where taken from carriage AU1259 that has consequently been grounded (ie has no wheels and is sitting on the ground).

BLV 1076 in the workshop at the Warwick Railway Precinct.

BLV 1076 has three sections:

  1. There is a guards compartment, which with dual doors, may allow easy access for Wheel chairs.
  2. The second area was a goods area, but is being reverted to “near original” 2 x 2nd class sitting compartments (with corridor) to toilet,
  3. The last area was 2 x 1st Class Sitting Compartments, with corridor to another toilet.

The first class corridor ran on the drivers side of the train, and 2nd class on firemans, however… we are planning to leave only one toilet, and have the corridor right through to guards compartment.

As with all QR heritage rollingstock (wooden), wheelchair access is difficult with the door to door widths of general carriages. Hence the guards compartment with dual doors will be utilised.

Carriage TCW 23 (originally BL 1040)

Current Status: 75% Restored
Built: 1923
Retired: 1999
Type: Economy Class carriage (48 Economy seats + 6 compartments)
Weight: 25.9t
Length: 15.850m
Width: 2.665m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

TCW 23 in the Warwick Railway Precinct yard.

Built at Ipswich Workshops and entering service as BL 1040 in November 1923, this carriage was built especially for the Sydney Mail train that ran between Brisbane and Wallangarra.

Other carriages that entered service to form the two Sydney Mail train sets were:

  1. AL 1036, AL 1037, BL 1040, BL 1041, BL 1042, CL 1046 and PARL 1048 – entering service in November 1923.
  2. AL 1038, AL 1039, BL 1043, BL 1044, BL 1045, CL 1047 and PARL 1049 – entering service in December 1923.

Sydney Mail hauled by BB18 1/4 1077, passes the Gorge Tank.

BL 1040 remained in service on the mail train and other services to Wallangarra until the 1970s.

In February 1981 it was converted to TCW 23, which was a Camp Wagon with 6 berths, shower, toilet, gas stove and gas heater for shower, gas and electric lights, hand pump to pump water from a 500 litre water tank underneath the carriage to another tank in the ceiling

It was retired by QR in 1999 and on 6 September 2004 it was purchased from Ipswich Workshops by SDSR.

This carriage is to be restored and turned into a refreshement car with wheelchair access.

Carriage CW 93 (originally BX 489)

Current Status: Static exhibit Amiens Railway Museum Project.
Built: 1909
Retired: 1999
Type: Economy Class carriage (72 Economy seats)
Weight: 32.5t
Length: 15.850m
Width: 2.665m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

CW 93 in the shed at Warwick Railway Precinct.

This carriage was built in 1909 as BX 489 for use on the Brisbane suburban network. It features a clerestory roof with stained glass windows, a centre isle, and end platforms. During World War II, it was converted to a Hospital Ward car on No. 2 Hospital train and in March 1943 was part of No. 4 Hospital train.

In December 1947 it was rebuilt again as a ‘BL’ type car with toilets and in 1951 it was painted green and toured the state as part of a Travelling Art Gallery.

In March 1967 it was converted for the last time to Camp Wagon CW93 and was placed in railway sidings for Queensland Railway employees to camp in when working away from home.

It was retired from service in April 1999 and was purchased by SDSR from Ipswich Workshops in September 2004. It is currently a static exhibit to the Amiens Railway Museum project that is organising a celebration event.

Carriage BU 1297

Built: 1937
Retired: 1986
Type: Evan’s Suburban (80 First class seats)
Weight: 23.4t
Length: 15.360m
Width: 2.620m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

BU 1297 at the Warwick Railway Precinct.

This carriage is still in it’s original condition when first received. It is a sister carriage to BU 1262 and will be restored to similar condition.

Carriage BU 1262

Current Status: 100% Restored – Mainline operational
Built: 1937
Retired: 1986
Type: Evan’s Suburban (90 Economy seats)
Weight: 23.4t
Length: 15.360m
Width: 2.620m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

BU 1262 in the roundhouse at the Warwick Railway Precinct.

Completely restored to mainline operations in December 2008. It is a sister carriage to BU 1297 which work is yet to be started on.

The seats in this carriage have been cut back to allow a walkway down the length of the carriage. All the seats have been upholstered with original materials. Carpet has been laid and all the luggage racks have been restored to their polished brass state.

A compartment has been built at one end of the carriage to house a toilet.

Carriage AU 739

Current Status: 100% Restored / Mainline Operational
Built: 1911
Retired: 1987
Type: Evan’s Suburban (80 First class seats)
Weight: 23.4t
Length: 15.360m
Width: 2.620m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

AU 739 in the shed at Warwick Railway Precinct.

Built in 1911 for the Brisbane suburban network, this style of carriage was known as the ‘Evan’s cars’ after the Railway Commissioner of the time. But some people preferred to call them ‘Dog boxes’.

AU 739 is a very special carriage in that it is the only surviving carriage from the train involved in Queensland’s worst train crash in 1947, the ‘Camp Mountain’ accident.

The complete history of this accident is available for reading in the Cotton Vale building.

AU 739 (right) in the 1947 Camp Mountain accident near Samford.

The carriage was retired from regular service in 1987, moved to Warwick in 2001.

DH45 Diesel hydraulic locomotive

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Panhard Levassor Rail Motor

Current Status: Leased to Texas & Inglewood Heritage Railway Society
Built: Original 1914 – SDSR replica 2003
Type: Panhard Levassor Rail Motor (12 seats in front + 20 seats in rear)
Weight: 25.9t
Length: 15.850m
Width: 2.665m
Gauge: 1,065mm gauge (3ft 6in)

The replica Panhard Levasor rail motor takes shape at Warwick.

The result of a project to build an authentic replica of a 1914 version of the Panhard Levassor using original plans produced by the Queensland Railway.

It is the intention that it will be used on the Hendon to Allora Branch line.

The railmotor has been an efficient means of moving passengers in regional areas throughout Queensland railway history. One of the earilest examples of railcar passengers travel was the 1918 Panhard Levassor.

Today the only complete original example is a static museum piece at Ipswch Railway Workshops. That particular railmotor saw service between Croydon and Normanton between 1918 and 1938.

Com-Eng Diesel locomotive

Current Status: In operation
Built: 1958 (Comg-Eng)
Type: Diesel locomotive
Weight: 10 t
Length: 10 m
Gauge: 1,065 mm gauge (3ft 6in)

Com-Eng Diesel locomotive at Warwick Railway Precinct.

This 30 ton diesel locomotive was built in 1958 at Com-Eng, Rocklea, Brisbane and spent it’s working life at the Mackay Bulk Sugar Terminal. It originally had a Rolls Royce engine but this was replaced with the current Caterpillar engine in 1972.

The loco was purchased from the Mackay Bulk Sugar Terminal by the Southern Downs Steam Railway on 5 May 1999.

It is currently unsuitable for hauling a tourist train as it lacks an air braking system to operate the brakes on the carriages.