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Locomotives and railmotors​​​

Steam locomotives

​​Originally, the first trains operating on the Normanton to Croydon railway line were steam. The first three steam locomotives arrived by sea for the Normanton Railway in 1888-89.  The locomotives were built in 1877, in England, by the Vulcan Foundry in Lancashire.

Originally the locomotives were being supplied by the Fairlie Engine Company for the construction of the Central Railway from Rockhampton to Barcaldine in the 1870s - 1880s.

The locomotives were transferred to the Normanton to Croydon Railway in 1888 and renumbered under the Queensland Railways state-wide system and became - A10 Number 202; Vulcan 802 of 1877 and Fairlie 602 of 1877.  While visiting Croydon, drop into the True Blue Visitor Information Centre, where the A10 locomotive is currently on display. 

But steam trains were expensive to run, especially in country areas where there were only very small passenger numbers. It wasn’t financially viable to operate a steam train service. So that‘s why, very early in the 20th century, railways started exploring a cost effective or efficient way of providing rural passenger services.

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​Railmotors​

What exactly ​​is a rail motor? The railmotors used for the Gulflander were built on bus and truck chassis of the Associated Equipment Company (AEC). They ran on internal combustion – either petrol or diesel. Buses in London had been built on the same type 506 chassis since 1914. Thirty-eight of the chassis for railmotors were imported to Queensland between 1927 to 1931 and fitted out with seats and bodies and converted for rail use.

  • RM31 - built at Ipswich Railway Workshops 1928, with 45 horsepower AEC and operated on the Normanton Croydon railway from 1929 to 1945.
  • RM32 - built at Ipswich Railway Workshops 1929, with 45 horsepower AEC and operated on the Normanton Croydon railway from 1945 to 1960.
  • RM60 - built Ipswich Railway Workshops 1931, with 45 horsepower AEC and operated on the Normanton to Croydon railway from 1960 to 1964. The RM60 is housed in the sheds at Normanton.
  • RM74 - built Ipswich Railway Workshops 1934, with a stronger motor of 100 horsepower AEC. It was converted in 1942 to a 102 horsepower Gardner diesel engine. This railmotor operated on Normanton to Croydon railway from 1964 to 1982. This railmotor is on display at the Redlands Museum in Brisbane.
  • RM93 - built at Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1950 and is the present day Gulflander service. The railmotor is powered by a 102 horsepower Gardner diesel engine. It arrived in Normanton in 1982 and the name ‘Gulflander’ was painted on the sides by 1987.

Diesel locomotive DL4​

Built in 1964 by Walkers Limited, Maryborough and the diesel locomotive, DL4, operated on the Etheridge railway, between Mount Surprise to Forsayth until 1968. The locomotive was transferred to Normanton 1988 and is still used today for maintenance purposes.

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​Want to learn more about the world of railmotors?

Listen to Queensland Rail’s Railmotor podcast (opens in new tab)​