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Children with a locomotive at the Dayboro railway station
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Reference numberPRLPC-P1389
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TitleChildren with a locomotive at the Dayboro railway stationDescriptionChildren in the photograph from left to right - Cecil Smart, Dawn Smart, Valmai Currell and Robert Salisbury. They are standing in front of a parked steam engine at the Dayboro railway station.
The image appears to be a Queensland Railways B17 class steam locomotive, taken at Dayboro. A photograph of B17 No. 682 on page 37 of John Armstrong's 'Locomotives in the Tropics - Volume Two' taken in 1945), has a similar appearance to the B17 in the photo taken at Dayboro. According to John Armstrong "No. 682 had a headlamp with a peaked top, and illuminated side panels, front and side, which was standard then, but which were removed in the fifties".
The Dayboro branch was one of a number of secondary lines built in the early part of the 20th century that allowed for main line steam locomotives to operate over them. A B17 class locomotive was one of these classes of locomotives. PhotographerAustin FamilyCollectorAustin FamilyRecord typePhotographFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourSepiaNotesThe QRIG website has a general overview history of the B17's:
These were the largest non superheated six coupled engines to operate in the state. The class was introduced when it was proposed to increase the size of the Sydney Mail (via Wallangarra). They were originally used for this train and mail trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton. By 1930s, with the availability of superheated engines they were relegated to lesser duties. Four engines were attached to the Central Division during World War 2 and they worked as far north as Bowen. Upsurge of traffic during those hostilities caused them to again be pressed into heavy main line passenger work. In their final years they were restricted to slow goods and shunting trains. Like many saturated engines, they were heavy on coal and water. They were generally unpopular with crews particularly with poorer coals and heavy loads. Superheating was trialled on two engines, N°678 and N°610, in 1917 but proved unsuccessful, apparently due to problems lubricating the slide valves. Superheaters were removed when the engines were reboilered between 1929 and 1931. The class contained a number of unusual features. The safety valves were contained in a small dome mounted behind the large regulator dome. There was a large gap between the second and third sets of coupled wheels. One standard Sellers injector was fitted on the fireman’s side whilst the other was a Davies and Metcalfe combined injector and clack valve mounted on the boiler back plate. They were the first engines to be fitted with what became the standard QR whistle for the next 35 years. Scrapping of the class commenced in 1950 and the last two engines in service, N°689 and N°690, were written off in November 1960.
https://qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/steam/b17-class
Information supplied by Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.
The image appears to be a Queensland Railways B17 class steam locomotive, taken at Dayboro. A photograph of B17 No. 682 on page 37 of John Armstrong's 'Locomotives in the Tropics - Volume Two' taken in 1945), has a similar appearance to the B17 in the photo taken at Dayboro. According to John Armstrong "No. 682 had a headlamp with a peaked top, and illuminated side panels, front and side, which was standard then, but which were removed in the fifties".
The Dayboro branch was one of a number of secondary lines built in the early part of the 20th century that allowed for main line steam locomotives to operate over them. A B17 class locomotive was one of these classes of locomotives. PhotographerAustin FamilyCollectorAustin FamilyRecord typePhotographFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourSepiaNotesThe QRIG website has a general overview history of the B17's:
These were the largest non superheated six coupled engines to operate in the state. The class was introduced when it was proposed to increase the size of the Sydney Mail (via Wallangarra). They were originally used for this train and mail trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton. By 1930s, with the availability of superheated engines they were relegated to lesser duties. Four engines were attached to the Central Division during World War 2 and they worked as far north as Bowen. Upsurge of traffic during those hostilities caused them to again be pressed into heavy main line passenger work. In their final years they were restricted to slow goods and shunting trains. Like many saturated engines, they were heavy on coal and water. They were generally unpopular with crews particularly with poorer coals and heavy loads. Superheating was trialled on two engines, N°678 and N°610, in 1917 but proved unsuccessful, apparently due to problems lubricating the slide valves. Superheaters were removed when the engines were reboilered between 1929 and 1931. The class contained a number of unusual features. The safety valves were contained in a small dome mounted behind the large regulator dome. There was a large gap between the second and third sets of coupled wheels. One standard Sellers injector was fitted on the fireman’s side whilst the other was a Davies and Metcalfe combined injector and clack valve mounted on the boiler back plate. They were the first engines to be fitted with what became the standard QR whistle for the next 35 years. Scrapping of the class commenced in 1950 and the last two engines in service, N°689 and N°690, were written off in November 1960.
https://qrig.org/motive-power/locomotives/steam/b17-class
Information supplied by Greg Hallam, Qld Railway Historian.
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PlaceDayboro (Qld.)PersonAustin FamilySubject (keywords)childrenlocomotivestrainsrailway linessteam enginessteam trains
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Access restrictionsPhysical copy restrictedRestrictions on useRestrictions varyConditions of useYou may print, copy or download images for private research. This image may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgement. [e.g. Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, reference number PRLPC-P0001] To obtain copies for commercial purposes or of a higher resolution, contact local.history@moretonbay.qld.gov.au. Charges apply
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Children with a locomotive at the Dayboro railway station. Moreton Bay Our Story, accessed 08/06/2026, https://ourstory.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/36317
