Written By: Thomas McIntosh
Photos By: Simon Barber and Alex Thorn
Page Last Updated: 10/7/20
DQ2009-2003-2011 with #531 freight at Three Sisters. (13/10/11)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
The DQ classes are a class of Diesel-Electric locomotives that were designed to help modernise and replace the largley English electric TasRail locomotive fleet.
They originally were QR 1460 and 1502 class locomotives which were rebuilt by TasRail as an alternative to buying new locomotives. They were rebuilt by Tranz Rail into 16 DQ classes, 12 of which fell into TasRail's ownership. The first arriving into Tasmania in 1998. |
DQ2001 with a cement train at Devonport. (12/10/11)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
DQ2011-2003-2001-2009 with #132 freight at Campania. (9/10/11)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
The DQs weigh around 90 tonnes and have a top speed of 80 km/h. They have operated on most if not every Tasmanian freight service. These locomotives have seen work with AN TasRail, Pacific National and the present day TasRail. The DQs had a lot of problems with them following their arrivals into Tasmania, mainly with their main generators failing often. The locomotive also had vibration issues since being rebuilt.
The introduction of the TR class in 2014 resulted in TasRail commencing the withdrawal of some DQs from service, all were withdrawn by 2015. In that same year, a few were bought back into service following failure of the TR classes abillity to operate on the Melba Line. Which mean the DQs were forced to continue work on the Melba line. Some other DQs have remained in use as shunters in Burnie and Devonport. In mid 2019, DQ2007 was converted into a driving trailer for Devonport cement trains, the loco was renumbered as DV2.
The introduction of the TR class in 2014 resulted in TasRail commencing the withdrawal of some DQs from service, all were withdrawn by 2015. In that same year, a few were bought back into service following failure of the TR classes abillity to operate on the Melba Line. Which mean the DQs were forced to continue work on the Melba line. Some other DQs have remained in use as shunters in Burnie and Devonport. In mid 2019, DQ2007 was converted into a driving trailer for Devonport cement trains, the loco was renumbered as DV2.
DQ2008 on a Cement train in Devonport. (24/1/20)
Photo By: Alex Thorn |
DQ2006-D2021 with a mixed freight at Sulphur Creek. (10/04)
Photo By: Simon Barber |
Locomotive Status
Road No.DQ2001
DQ2002 DQ2003 DQ2004 DQ2005 DQ2006 DQ2007 DQ2008 DQ2009 DQ2010 DQ2011 DQ2012 |
LiveryTR Grey & Yellow
TR Grey & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Grey & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Grey & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Grey & Yellow TR Red & Yellow TR Grey & Yellow |
OwnerTasRail
TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail TasRail |
Delivery DateSep 1998
Sep 1998 Dec 1998 Dec 1998 Dec 1998 Mar 1999 Mar 1999 Mar 1999 Oct 1999 Oct 1999 Oct 1999 Oct 1999 |
Current StateOperational
Operational Stored Stored Stored Operational Converted - DV2 Operational Operational Operational Operational Operational |
All information sourced from Wikipedia and railtasmania.com