The DH class was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by

Walkers Limited Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built ships and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces railway locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail. History In ...

, Maryborough for

Queensland Rail Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and relate ...

ways between 1966 and 1974.

History

In 1966,

Queensland Railways Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining approximately 6,600 kilometres of track and relate ...

tested a

built diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive. This was later purchased and by 1974, the 73 DH class locomotives had taken over shunting duties in most Queensland yards. They were also used on short-distance freight services. With the closure of many freight yards and the move to longer trains, withdrawals started in the 1980s. Many were sold for further use on Queensland sugar cane railways. *29 were

rebuilt ''Rebuilt'' is the second and final studio album by the American girl group Girlicious. The album was released on November 22, 2010, by Universal Music Canada. The album draws from the dance-pop genre while infusing hints of R&B. Production init ...

to gauge for use at sugar mills around Queensland. *4 were rebuilt to gauge for use on the Yallourn 900mm Railway in Victoria, and subsequently converted to gauge for use at sugar mills in Queensland. *13 were exported to Vietnam and 2 to Malaysia as large diesel shunters for use on gauge.

Preservation

DH2 is retained by the

Heritage division. Privately owned DH71 is also on site. DH14 was used at Old Ghan Heritage Railway and Museum, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Is stored due to trains not running. In 1995, DH59 was purchased by the

Puffing Billy Railway The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway in the southern foothills of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne, Australia. The railway was one of the five narrow gauge lines of the Victorian Railways which opened around the beg ...

, which operates in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

. It was re-gauged to , reclassified as DH31, and is used as a replacement for steam locomotives on days of total fire ban. It has since been joined by DH5. As of 2017, DH31 is currently re-numbered back to its original DH59. In 2010, the

Walhalla Goldfields Railway The Walhalla Goldfields Railway is a narrow gauge tourist railway located in the Thomson River and Stringers Creek valleys in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, near the former gold-mining town and tourist destination of Walhalla. History ...

purchased DH37. The locomotive is stored on a section of track in the Walhalla yard, awaiting re-gauging to the Walhalla Railway's gauge. In June 2012, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway also bought DH72, which will also be stored until funds are available to re-gauge it to . DH38 spent the majority of its working life in the Northern part of the state, especially around the Mackay area. Following a major failure – notably a large hole blown in the engine block following a crankcase explosion – the locomotive was withdrawn on 5 July 1991. After purchase by the ARHS Qld, DH38 underwent a major restoration involving rebuilding the engine and electrical system as well as having all axles and wheels replaced due to cracks. Privately owned DH45 is currently leased, since 2015, to Southern Downs Steam Railway as a backup for SDSR's C17 steam locomotive. DH73 has been acquired by DownerEDi Marybrough to be used as a shunting locomotive. It is named Hugh Boge. dead link

Status table of preserved locomotives

References

{{Locomotives of Vietnam B-B locomotives Diesel locomotives of Vietnam Diesel-hydraulic locomotives of Australia Railway locomotives introduced in 1966 Queensland Rail locomotives Walkers Limited locomotives 3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia 2 ft gauge locomotives 2 ft 6 in gauge locomotives