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Steam locomotive at the railway sheds in Caboolture, ca. 1920
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Reference numberCLPC-P0924
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TitleSteam locomotive at the railway sheds in Caboolture, ca. 1920DescriptionThe image shows a Queensland Railways PB15 class steam locomotive No. 472. The locomotive was built by the Brisbane company of Evans, Anderson and Phelan (Works number 78) and entered service on the Queensland Railways in July, 1909. It was withdrawn from traffic in December, 1968. The locomotive appears to be on a turntable. Dateca. 1920PhotographerUnknownCollectorUnknownRecord typePostcardFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourSepiaNotesOne of the well-known names associated with locomotive, wagon and carriage construction in Queensland from the late 19th to mid-20thcentury was the foundry and Engineering works of Evans, Anderson and Phelan. EAP as it was known, was established in 1877.
The works were relocated to Kangaroo Point in 1898. Up until 1927 the Company built 185 steam locomotives for Queensland Railways along with boilers, plus dredges for the Queensland Government. The works were situated at the eastern end of Main Street, Kangaroo Point and the locomotives had to be delivered to the Woolloongabba locomotive depot 2 kms away at the other end of Main Street. Short sections of track were assembled and laid along the street. Two locomotives were coupled together in steam and moved along the section of track to its end. The Queenslander newspaper from 1893 had an article in TROVE about the early delivery of other engines for the Queensland Railways.
"Queensland-built Locomotives
Messrs. Evans, Anderson, Phelan, and Co. delivered two new goods engines at the Wooloongabba Railway Station on the 12th instant, being the first two of their contract for thirteen, engines of Class B15. The engines steamed out of the firm's workshops, Kangaroo Point, at 8 a.m., and proceeded slowly along Main-street on a short temporary line laid in the middle of that street.
The line was so constructed that as soon as the engines had passed over one section of rails they were taken up and placed in position ahead, and thus the engines worked their way gradually to their destination, which was reached about 4 p.m. Messrs. Evans, Anderson, Phelan, and Co.'s original contract was for fifty engines, being twenty-five of the passenger class and twenty-five of the mixed traffic class.
They completed the former and were about to start on the latter, when the Railway Commissioners, considering it desirable to make an alteration in the contract, ordered thirteen goods engines of a more powerful type in lieu thereof. The balance will probably be made up of a class of engines similar to those now being built by the Phoenix Company, of Ipswich.
A comparison of the goods engines delivered at' Woolloongabba with the engines recently imported from England, shows that several improvements have been introduced into the former, with a view to rendering them not only more efficient, but also more comfortable for the men. The local engines are of greater power owing to increased steam pressure, and special attention has been paid to the balancing of the wheels. The cab, which is larger than in the English engines, is provided with glass windows and blinds, this giving protection to the men from rain, wind, or sun as may be required. There are several other minor improvements of a technical nature…
The two engines just completed will doubtless be put on their running test of 1000 miles at an early date".
Queenslander, Saturday 20 May 1893, page 944.
Information from Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.
The works were relocated to Kangaroo Point in 1898. Up until 1927 the Company built 185 steam locomotives for Queensland Railways along with boilers, plus dredges for the Queensland Government. The works were situated at the eastern end of Main Street, Kangaroo Point and the locomotives had to be delivered to the Woolloongabba locomotive depot 2 kms away at the other end of Main Street. Short sections of track were assembled and laid along the street. Two locomotives were coupled together in steam and moved along the section of track to its end. The Queenslander newspaper from 1893 had an article in TROVE about the early delivery of other engines for the Queensland Railways.
"Queensland-built Locomotives
Messrs. Evans, Anderson, Phelan, and Co. delivered two new goods engines at the Wooloongabba Railway Station on the 12th instant, being the first two of their contract for thirteen, engines of Class B15. The engines steamed out of the firm's workshops, Kangaroo Point, at 8 a.m., and proceeded slowly along Main-street on a short temporary line laid in the middle of that street.
The line was so constructed that as soon as the engines had passed over one section of rails they were taken up and placed in position ahead, and thus the engines worked their way gradually to their destination, which was reached about 4 p.m. Messrs. Evans, Anderson, Phelan, and Co.'s original contract was for fifty engines, being twenty-five of the passenger class and twenty-five of the mixed traffic class.
They completed the former and were about to start on the latter, when the Railway Commissioners, considering it desirable to make an alteration in the contract, ordered thirteen goods engines of a more powerful type in lieu thereof. The balance will probably be made up of a class of engines similar to those now being built by the Phoenix Company, of Ipswich.
A comparison of the goods engines delivered at' Woolloongabba with the engines recently imported from England, shows that several improvements have been introduced into the former, with a view to rendering them not only more efficient, but also more comfortable for the men. The local engines are of greater power owing to increased steam pressure, and special attention has been paid to the balancing of the wheels. The cab, which is larger than in the English engines, is provided with glass windows and blinds, this giving protection to the men from rain, wind, or sun as may be required. There are several other minor improvements of a technical nature…
The two engines just completed will doubtless be put on their running test of 1000 miles at an early date".
Queenslander, Saturday 20 May 1893, page 944.
Information from Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.
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Steam locomotive at the railway sheds in Caboolture, ca. 1920 (ca. 1920). Moreton Bay Our Story, accessed 02/04/2026, https://ourstory.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/29794
