Clyde/GM 2250 Class

The 2250 class is the result of QR's commitment to extending the life of its locomotive fleet. Twenty-five were rebuilt at Redbank Workshops from 2004, numbered 2251 to 2275, using all eleven of the 2130 class, all eight of the 2141 class and six of the 1550 class. The roots-blown engines were replaced with refurbished turbocharged EMD 12-645E engines taken from the 1502 class, making the 2130 and 2141 rebuilds effectively a 12-cylinder version of their original 16-cylinder platform. Like the 2300s they were ballasted to 110 tonnes for heavy coal work.

The QR Maxi-Cab refurbishment was applied, with new air-conditioning, new Bramshey seats, a DTC computer, fridge and kettle, along with Dash 2 electronics and ZTR traction control equipment, which allows greater traction control without wheelslip. The first three were outshopped in QR's old corporate (Bronco) livery, and the rest in the then-new QR National livery.

Their stay in Queensland was relatively short. In 2014 twenty were sold to Transnet in South Africa, leaving five with Aurizon, which are now allocated to Whyalla in South Australia. Several of the exported units have since come home: Watco Australia bought back 2251, 2252, 2257 and 2266 as its WRD class, and Progress Rail brought back seven as its PRL class, leased to Qube for north Queensland work.

References

'Queensland Railways 2250 class', Wikipedia (accessed October 2026)
'2250 Class', Railtram Australia (accessed October 2026)
'WRD Class', Railtram Australia (accessed October 2026)
'PRL Class', Railtram Australia (accessed October 2026)