2-8-2 Steam Locomotives in Australia

Class 8D15 (Locobase 13761)

Data from the Queensland Railways Interest Group's website at [], last accessed 21 January 2012. Dubs works numbers were 2010-2012 in 1885; 2014, 2013 in 1884.

QRIG credits the QLD's Hornblow with pushing for these more powerful tanks to handle the greater goods and mineral-train traffic over the Main Range to Toowoomba. Dubs supplied these so-called "Donald Dinnies"(named after a famous heavy-stone lifter of the day), which did the trick. Oscillations on bridges were successfully reduced by adding 1,400 lb (12 1/2 cwt) to the engines.

By 1890, however, the Central Division engines proved much too short-ranged for their duties and Ipswich added B13 tenders and removed the trailing axle. These 2-8-0s put 55,104 lb (24.6 long tons) on the drivers and weighed 63,616 lb (28.4 long tons). Their tenders held twice as much coal (4 long tons/4.4 short tons) and 1,400 Imp gallons (1,680 US gal).

All 5 were reboilered in 1903; see Locobase 13762-13763.

Class 8D15 - reboilered (Locobase 13762)

Data from the Queensland Railways Interest Group's website at [], last accessed 21 January 2012.

Remaking the 8D15s in 1903 from the 1885 engines described in Locobase 13761 was confined to a new boiler and firebox. The grate was slightly larger, the boiler somewhat smaller. Adhesion weight increased by 1 1/2 long tons while engine weight remained the same.

In their altered state, the 3 Mikado tanks operated until they were withdrawn in October 1922.