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6D17 later D17 Class

Total Number of Engines Built 30
First Engine Built 1924
Last Engine Built 1942
First Engine Written Off 1961
Last Engine Written Off 1968
Number of Engines in Class on the Books as at:
31/12/20 31/12/30 31/12/40 31/12/50 31/12/60 31/12/66 31/12/67 31/12/68
20 27 30 30 27 15
Number of Engines in Class in Service as at:
31/12/67 31/12/68
11

Notes

These superheated engines were built to assist the 6D16 class with increasing suburban traffic. They were restricted to the Brisbane suburban area with boundaries of Ipswich, Ferny Grove, Pinkenba, Shorncliffe, Petrie, Kingston and Lota. This area was later extended beyond Ipswich to Grandchester. Initially, all were attached to Mayne depot but later several were transferred to Wooloongabba.

Cylinder and steam chest castings are identical to C17 Class. The ‘6’ was dropped from the classification in 1937. The engines were often unofficially referred to as ‘black tanks’ after the introduction of the DD17 class. Engines constructed in 1937 had boilers with a pressure of 170psi. Earlier engines were altered to that pressure as they passed through workshops. A wooden crate was fixed to the centre of the bunker to slightly increase the coal capacity from the original 3 tons.

It was intended to fit roller bearings to all engines constructed after 1937, (N°853 to N° 857, N°882 to N°886) however these bearings became difficult to obtain due to the war and only N°853 to N°857 were fitted with them. Engines of this class were some of the last to receive electric headlights due to them being restricted to running in the Brisbane suburban area. Fitting of electric headlights commenced in 1951.

Increasing numbers of diesels saw them displaced from suburban passenger trains. Those engines attached to Wooloongabba depot immediately prior to its closure were the last to be employed on such trains.

N°53 and N°75 were the last two members of class in service and were written off in December 1968.

Abbreviations

Ipswich – Ipswich Workshops
Walkers – Walkers Ltd. Engineering Maryborough

Technical Details
 OriginalFrom 1937
Wheel Arrangement4-6-4T4-6-4T
Cylinders (diameter x stroke) ins.17 X 2217 X 22
Coupled Wheels diameter ins.5151
Rigid Wheel Base10' 0"10' 0"
Length over Buffers37' 3"37' 3"
Height over smoke stack12' 0¼"12' 0¼"
Axle Load1212
Boiler Pressure - psi.160170
Heating Surface - tubes730730
Heating Surface - Total sq. ft.10201020
Grate Area - sq. ft.16.616.6
Weight - Adhesive35.535.5
Weight - Engine58.458.4
Weight - Tender--
Coal Capacity - tons33
Water Capacity - gallons12001200
Tractive Effort - lbs. (85%)1694018000
Factor of Adhesion4.694.42
Valve GearWalschaertWalschaert
Westinghouse Pump10 X 10 5/810 X 10 5/8
Brake ValveNo4No4
Class Roster