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C17 No.721 Plinthed (as No.719) at Jandowae |
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C17 No.721 (masquerading as No.719) at Jandowae on 24 July
2021.
My thanks to Michael Gitsham & Michael Smith for contributing
the images of No.721 for this page, following their visit to Jandowae.
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Builder |
Walkers
Limited, Maryborough |
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Builder’s Number & Year |
347 of 1922 (No.719) 349 of 1922 (No.721) |
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Wheel Arrangement |
4-8-0 |
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No. in class |
227 |
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The
locomotive plinthed at Jandowae is one of Queensland Railways’ highly successful
C17 class 4-8-0 locomotives of which 227 units were constructed by a variety
of builders between 1920 and 1953. The C17’s were a ‘maid of all work’ type
that were powerful enough for main line freight duties, yet with a low axle
load which permitted wide deployment and accordingly they could be found on
everything from suburban and express passenger trains to main, secondary and
branch line freight and mixed traffic work. The final C17 class members were
retired at the very end of QR revenue steam operations in August 1970. This C17
is of the original ‘1920 design’ identifiable by a straight-sided cutaway
cab, tall steam dome, cast iron chimney and a low-sided bogie tender. It has
been reboilered at some stage, receiving the 1938 style of boiler with low
steam dome, although retaining an older-style cast iron chimney. (I have some
additional background information about the Queensland Railways’ C17 class
locomotives on the page for C17 No.2.) The locomotive
at Jandowae was for many years understood to be No.719, which was placed in
Queensland Government Railways service in January 1923 and written off 44
years later in May 1967. More recent information (as per the update listed
below) reveals it is actually No.721, part of the same batch built by
Walkers, placed in service February 1923 and written off in August 1968.
Following retirement, it was placed in a park at Jandowae, west of Toowoomba,
where it is displayed under a weather roof. Ownership of this locomotive had
been with Wambo Shire Council and is understood to have since transferred to
Jandowae Accommodation Park, where it is situated. I greatly
appreciate the various contributions received from ex-railway employees and
researchers for this website. An example is this significant update received
from Michael Gitsham in July 2021 regarding the identity of this locomotive: I am
writing to inform to provide you with an update to your listing on Ex QR C17
719 at Jandowae. Ater recently visiting the locomotive, it is mistakenly
listed as 719 as after checking the stamping within the locomotive, it does
not correspond to 719 thus an imposter and here is the correction; Queensland
Railways C17 721 - Walkers, 349 of 1922 - was a Mayne locomotive all its
working life working around the Brisbane, North Coast & Darling Downs in
the South East Division of Queensland Government Railways, whereas 719 was a
South West Division Locomotive based at Willowburn, which worked to Dalby,
Jandowae, Charleville, Glen Morgan etc. When steam was finishing in 1967 the
Wambo Shire Council was offered 719 as it was the Jandowae locomotive that
worked the branch, and was told by Queensland Railways that they would have
it. However there was a mis-communication at Willowburn with the locomotive
accidently being sent to scrap, so to save face; the General Manager selected
721 which was close enough and to stand in her place with 719 plates. It
received in her last class 1 overhaul prior to being placed; the new boiler
to the 1938 pattern with Double Sand domes for working the Bundamba - Redbank
Loop Branch. (see Image below - Mayne {John Buckland, 1958}). Sometime during
the 70s, the Plates were stolen and removed. In July 2007, prior to Council
Amalgamations; the locomotive within the former Wambo Shire Council Caravan
Park was sold to private owners and is no longer owned by the Local
Government - Western Downs Regional Council, but AAOK Jandowae Accommodation
Park. In
my 2021 visit, I have provided the Westinghouse Pump check plate which
indicates 721, with big end crank with 721 and present condition images of
the locomotive, still containing her original asbestos lagging but has been
slowly decaying with rust patches due to little maintenance. Many of the
fittings were removed by the former MVHR & Zig Zag for parts used in
their restoration of C17 locomotives over the years. My thanks
to Michael Gitsham and Michael Smith for the above information, together with
the following photographs which date from their visit to Jandowae and
inspection of the locomotive there on 24 July 2021. |
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The Westinghouse brake exam plate attached to the
locomotive clearly shows this locomotive is actually No.721.
This photo is courtesy of Michael Gitsham and Michael
Smith, and dates from July 2021.
Similarly, the big end crank pin is stamped ‘721’
(Other marks seem to indicate that the crank pin is
suitable for both C16 & C17 class locos.)
A front view of No.721 resting at Jandowae.
View from the coal space into the tender, showing that the
backhead is stripped of controls and fittings.
C17 No.721 on shed at Mayne depot in 1958. The dual sand
boxes are evident – and indeed also carried by the C17 loco behind.
This view originated from John Buckland and is dated 1958.
This earlier view of No.721 at Jandowae in November 2000
shows that the weather shelter was in place by that time, with not much change
since.
This photo was kindly contributed by Bert Meinders.
References
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a |
‘Locomotives of Australia’ by Leon Oberg, published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd |
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b |
Armstrong,
J. 'Locomotives in the Tropics - Volume 2 (Queensland
Railways 1910 – 1958 and beyond)’, published
by the ARHS Queensland Division, 1994. |
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c |
Information table provided by Graham Wilson (Operations Manager, Heritage
Rollingstock & Component Services, QR) at our meeting of 8 October 2004. |
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d |
Information
provided by Michael Gitsham, Railway Preservation Society of
Queensland Inc. via
email dated 26 July 2021. |
Page updated: 30 January 2022
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Government Railways: |
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Private & Industrial Railways: |
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