Total Number of Engines Built	203
First Engine Built	1899
Last Engine Built	1924
First Engine Written Off	1941
Last Engine Written Off	1970

31/12/00	31/12/10	31/12/20	31/12/30	31/12/40	31/12/50	31/12/60	31/12/66	31/12/67	31/12/68	31/12/69	31/12/70
16	132	202	202	202	170	161	118	100	67	25	–

31/12/67	31/12/68	7/10/69
65	34	20

Notes

This class was the most significant and successful of the locomotives designed in the nineteenth century. The design resulted from a need for more powerful engines for passenger trains. Initially designated as “Passenger” B15, they were later better known as PB15.

They spent many of their early years hauling important passenger trains around the state. With the strengthening of the main lines they were relieved of most of these tasks by more powerful locomotives. Later they were relegated to lesser duties on branch lines and in shunting yards. Engines attached to Wooloongabba and later at Mayne were used on “Southside” suburban passenger trains until 1968.

A number of modifications including cab alterations and fitting of electric headlights were carried out during their lives. Tenders on engines constructed at Toowoomba Foundry and the one at Ipswich had increased water capacity. Some engines based at Cairns had additional boards on their tenders to enable additional coal to be carried. Several engines were fitted with an additional sandbox and electric light on the tender for working on branch lines where no turning facilities were available. In May 1918, Ipswich Workshops converted N°411 into a tank engine. Evidently the results were not completely satisfactory as the engine returned to its original form in March 1922. In the late 1920s, the boiler pressure was increased from 150psi to 160 psi.

They could run on all parts of the system except the Etheridge line, the isolated Normanton and (now closed) Cooktown Lines.

One engine was built in 1924 for the Aramac Shire Council. This engine was subsequently purchased from the Council when the Aramac Shire Tramway was dieselized in 1958. Numbered A1 in Council service, it first ran on QR in February 1958 as N°1052 but was renumbered N°12 in June of that year. This was the only engine of the class to be constructed at Ipswich Workshops.

In 1924, increasing traffic on lines that could not carry C16 engines resulted in orders being placed for an engine of similar proportions but fitted with Walschaerts valve gear. These engines became PB15 (1924) Class.

In November 1969, nineteen members of the class were still operating; eleven in the Mackay District, and four at Maryborough and four at Ipswich.

*Originally 8 x 7½. The larger pumps were fitted between 1928 and 1942

Abbreviations

EAP – Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co, Brisbane, Qld
Ipswich – Ipswich Workshops, Qld
Kitson – Kitson & Coy, Leeds, UK
Toowoomba – Toowoomba Foundry Ltd, (Southern Cross Works) Toowoomba, Qld
Walkers – Walkers Limited, Engineers, Maryborough, Qld

Main lines

Main Line: UP to Toowoomba, DOWN to Roma Street.

Southern Line: UP to Wallangarra, DOWN to Toowoomba.

South Western Line: UP to Dirranbandi, DOWN to Warwick.

Western Line: UP to Cunnamulla, DOWN to Toowoomba.

Great Western Line: UP to Quilpie, DOWN to Westgate.

North Coast Line: UP to Roma Street, DOWN to Cairns.

Central Western Line: UP to Winton, DOWN to Rocklands

Moura line: UP to Gladstone, DOWN to Moura

Goonyella line: UP to North Goonyella, DOWN to Hay Point

Great Northern Railway:

Branch lines

Ebenezer branch: UP to Ebenezer, DOWN to Yarrowlea

Millmerran branch: UP to Millmerran, DOWN to Wyreema

Jandowae branch:

Glenmorgan branch:

Wandoan branch:

Kingaroy branch:

Monto branch:

Boundary Hill branch:

Biloela branch:

Callide branch:

Goovigen branch:

Theodore branch:

Brisbane Suburban Area:

Gold Coast Line (Beenleigh Line): UP to Robina, DOWN to Roma Street.

Cleveland Branch: UP to Cleveland (and Fisherman Islands), DOWN to Park Road.

Yeerongpilly-Corinda Branch: UP to Corinda, DOWN to Yeerongpilly.

Acacia Ridge Branch: UP to Acacia Ridge, DOWN towards (Salisbury Junction).

Main Line: UP to Rosewood, DOWN to Roma Street.

Box Flat branch: UP to Box Flat/Swanbank, DOWN to Bundamba

North Coast Line: DOWN to Caboolture, UP to Roma Street.

Exhibition Loop: UP to Roma Street, DOWN to Mayne Junction.

Ferny Grove Branch: DOWN to Ferny Grove, UP to Bowen Hills.

Pinkenba Branch: DOWN to Pinkenba, UP to Eagle Junction.

Airport Branch: DOWN to Domestic, UP to Airport Junction.

Shorncliffe Branch: DOWN to Shorncliffe, UP to Northgate.