C17 Class

* All steam locomotives were written off the books in 1970, however a few C17s contrinued to be used around Ipswich for shunting and departmental purposes until March 1972

Number of Engines in Class on the Books as at:

Number of Engines in Class in Service as at:

Notes

These versatile engines were a superheated version of C16 Class. This class contained more engines and was constructed over a longer period than any other type on QR. In fact, some earlier members of the class had been withdrawn before the final ones entered service. Commonwealth Railways NM Class was based on this design.

They were used to haul Mail Trains on lines could not accommodate heavier (B18¼) classes, also suburban passenger, mixed, goods and branch line trains. Until 1948 they were the heaviest engines that could work north of Mackay. Prior to the introduction of 60ton DEL, they were responsible for hauling the air conditioned Inlander, Midlander and Westlander trains for parts of their respective journeys.

First engines had large steam domes, open cabs and C16 style tenders. Those built from 1938 onwards, commencing with N°858, had small steam domes, sedan cabs with welded tenders, larger diameter (9½") piston valves and Laird crossheads in place of the previuosly used Alligator type. The two types of boilers were occasionally interchanged at overhauls and by later years most of the old style ones had been replaced. The last 40 engines, N°961 to N°1000, were fitted with roller bearings and painted brown. They acquired the nick name of "Brown Bombers". Those overhauled in the last years of steam operations were repainted black. A number of modifications were carried out over their life including the fitting of large mushroom air snifting valves. Several had additional sandboxes and/or rear headlights fitted at various times for working lines where no turning facilities were available.

An "improved C17", with a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement, was designed after World War 2 incorporating features of both the existing C17 and AC16 engines. Approval was granted for eighteen of these new CC17 engines to be built at Ipswich. Construction began in 1950 but at a retarded rate because of post war material shortages and the heavy repair programme. With increasing interest now centred on diesel traction the venture gradually lost its priority. Some components were built but no major assembly work was completed and by 1953 the project was abandoned.

After the commencement of Moura coal traffic and before the rearrangement of Gladstone yard, C17 engines were used to haul coal trains from the yard to the unloading facilities at the wharf. This involved moving loads in excess of 1000 tons. Engines used for this work were the only QR steam locomotives to be fitted with two way radios.

Nineteen were still in service in November 1969; ten at Ipswich, eight at Mackay and one at Maryborough.

* Capacity increased by fitting of coal boards
** Engines built since March 1945 (N°917 onwards)

Preservation update (2026)

Twenty-five C17s survive. The Mary Valley Rattler at Gympie has the largest group, with 967 operational alongside 45, 253, 819 and 996, while 705 is on loan to the Imbil Progress Association for display. The Southern Downs Steam Railway at Warwick, which runs the Downs Explorer, has 802, 812, 935 and 971, the last undergoing restoration. The QR Heritage Division holds 2 at the North Ipswich Railway Workshops, 974, which is undergoing maintenance, and 1000, stored at the Workshops Rail Museum. 761 is being overhauled at the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway, 720 is at the Rosewood Railway Museum, 988 is at Archer Park Station in Rockhampton, and 934 and 966 "City of Rockhampton" have crossed the border to the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow.

The rest are on display: 251 in Townsville, 965 in Mundubbera, 944 at the Miles Historical Village, 763 at the Murgon Men's Shed and 980 with the Blackwater Lions Club. Two are displayed under other numbers: the engine at Jandowae is 721 shown as 719, and the one at Injune is 824 shown as 809.

Source: 'Queensland C17 class locomotive', Wikipedia (accessed October 2026)

Abbreviations

AWC - Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co, Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK
Clyde - Clyde Engineering Co, Granville, NSW
EAP - Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co, Brisbane
Ipswich - Ipswich Railway Workshops
Walkers - Walkers Limited, Engineers, Maryborough, Qld

MVHR - Mary Valley Heritage Railway Gympie

SDSR - Southern Downs Steam Railway Warwick

ZZR - Zig Zag Railway Lithgow NSW