I'm in my mid seventies now. But as a teenage apprentice signwriter, I remember going out to English Electric at Rocklea and writing the numbers on the sides and each end of the diesel electric locomotives. Had to let it dry, and give it three coats. A dullish yellow. It contrasted well against the blue or off white panels. Sometimes as I was signwriting the numbers on, they'd decide to start the engines up for a test run. No warning for me. But as just a lad, I'd almost soil my undies. Couldn't keep brushing as the surface was vibrating so much. So I'd wash my brush out, sit down and enjoy all the action until the test was over. As a young train enthusiast, I loved every time I had to go to English Electric for train numbering. Oh, the memories!
Hello John, Thank you for sharing your story of your youth. I always enjoy hearing these types of stories as it adds a lot of knowledge to the topic of railway history and in this case Queensland Rail's story. Too often, many of the rail enthusiasts focus entirely on what is before them right now. Hearing how you played a part in the construction of many English Electric locomotives albeit ensuring that each locomotive could be identified correctly is detail worth knowing. You may not know but my channel features a production on two former 1300 Class locomotives converted to MKA Class locomotives. Dawn of the MKA Class features what were originally English Electric locomotives, 1320 and 1329. You possibly painted these two back in the day. I am grateful to you for sharing this information as it has made me think about that process and now I have even more knowledge of how things were done. Please take a look at some of my other productions and enjoy the content. Thanks again for sharing your history and this interesting story.
Great to see and hear those old workhorses that used to dominate the rails around Brisbane for many years, being seen daily on suburban passenger workings or any type of freight. But always felt much of their character diminished when the large buffers were removed. Who would have believed some of them would eventually be transformed into standard gauge locos? They are sadly missed.
Typical Aurizon sending everything to the scrap metal heap or chille ,south Africa and bolivia instead of selling it to other Australian companies, Aurizon will always be remembered as the death of the Queensland rail network in my opinion !!.... ps great film mate 👍
Thanks for your view Samuel. Sadly, the reality of privatisation is that regard for historical elements in this case, locomotives are not an obligation. Nor is providing a competitive capacity for real or notional commercial opponents. The network is another matter. Aurizon at the time were coal obsessed, something that are desperate to retreat from now. Closing down operations left empty tracks and the government holding the bill for maintenance. Privatisation of QR was badly managed by the government of the day. They had little recourse on so many issues and that has had a detrimental effect on rail ever since. Sadly, they just wanted the money and had no idea how to structure the deal retain controls of many different elements that would have been beneficial in the long term. However, thank you for your endorsement of the production. I always appreciate viewers giving a thumbs up to my productions.
I'm in my mid seventies now. But as a teenage apprentice signwriter, I remember going out to English Electric at Rocklea and writing the
numbers on the sides and each end of the diesel electric locomotives. Had to let it dry, and give it three coats. A dullish yellow. It
contrasted well against the blue or off white panels. Sometimes as I was signwriting the numbers on, they'd decide to start the
engines up for a test run. No warning for me. But as just a lad, I'd almost soil my undies. Couldn't keep brushing as the surface was
vibrating so much. So I'd wash my brush out, sit down and enjoy all the action until the test was over. As a young train enthusiast, I loved
every time I had to go to English Electric for train numbering. Oh, the memories!
Hello John,
Thank you for sharing your story of your youth. I always enjoy hearing these types of stories as it adds a lot of knowledge to the topic of railway history and in this case Queensland Rail's story. Too often, many of the rail enthusiasts focus entirely on what is before them right now. Hearing how you played a part in the construction of many English Electric locomotives albeit ensuring that each locomotive could be identified correctly is detail worth knowing.
You may not know but my channel features a production on two former 1300 Class locomotives converted to MKA Class locomotives. Dawn of the MKA Class features what were originally English Electric locomotives, 1320 and 1329. You possibly painted these two back in the day.
I am grateful to you for sharing this information as it has made me think about that process and now I have even more knowledge of how things were done.
Please take a look at some of my other productions and enjoy the content.
Thanks again for sharing your history and this interesting story.
The 1460/1520 were always the primary focus of all my earlier Queensland visits.
Thanks Brad
Great to see and hear those old workhorses that used to dominate the rails around Brisbane for many years, being seen daily on suburban passenger workings or any type of freight. But always felt much of their character diminished when the large buffers were removed. Who would have believed some of them would eventually be transformed into standard gauge locos? They are sadly missed.
Thanks for the observations Alan.
Very insightful video, great footage too 👌🏼
Thank you Rob for your comment. I hope you might enjoy some of my other productions.
Would have been an awesome video without the music over the top of the videos of the locos
Poor 423s :'-(
Hello again Taurean,
Thanks for your comment.
Typical Aurizon sending everything to the scrap metal heap or chille ,south Africa and bolivia instead of selling it to other Australian companies, Aurizon will always be remembered as the death of the Queensland rail network in my opinion !!.... ps great film mate 👍
Thanks for your view Samuel. Sadly, the reality of privatisation is that regard for historical elements in this case, locomotives are not an obligation. Nor is providing a competitive capacity for real or notional commercial opponents.
The network is another matter. Aurizon at the time were coal obsessed, something that are desperate to retreat from now. Closing down operations left empty tracks and the government holding the bill for maintenance.
Privatisation of QR was badly managed by the government of the day. They had little recourse on so many issues and that has had a detrimental effect on rail ever since. Sadly, they just wanted the money and had no idea how to structure the deal retain controls of many different elements that would have been beneficial in the long term.
However, thank you for your endorsement of the production. I always appreciate viewers giving a thumbs up to my productions.