Queensland Railways 1620 class
The Queensland Railways 1620 class were diesel-electric locomotives built by English Electric at Rocklea for Queensland Railways between 1967 and 1969. A total of 34 were produced, numbered 1620–1653. They were an evolution of the earlier 1600 class, adding a hood nose, and were similar to New Zealand’s DI class. They operated across Central and North Queensland and also hauled Brisbane commuter trains.
Key details
- Configuration: Co-Co (UIC)
- Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
- Length: 13.84 m
- Weight: 63 tonnes
- Prime mover: English Electric 6CSRKT mark 2, four-stroke, turbocharged and intercooled
- Generator: English Electric 827
- Traction motors: English Electric 540
- Cylinders: 6 (10 in x 12 in)
- MU: 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle
- Brakes: loco straight air; train air brakes
- Max speed: 80 km/h
- Power: 755 kW (1,012 hp)
- Built: 1967–1969; first run in 1967
Fate and preservation
- 34 were built; numbers were 1620–1653
- About six are preserved: 1620, 1632, 1639, 1649, 1650 and 1651
- Ten were exported; 18 were scrapped
- After withdrawal in the mid-1990s, some units went overseas (including to Malaysia and the Philippines)
- In Malaysia, unit 1647 was seen at a cement works near Padang Jawa, Kuala Lumpur, stored undercover as of January 2026
- Another unit, 1644, was reported with DMIA (as DMIA8007) at Serendah, near Kuala Lumpur, in January 2026
These locomotives left a lasting mark on Queensland’s rail network, combining a robust diesel-electric setup with a distinctive hood-nose design.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:58 (CET).