Greg Hallam - Historian, Queensland Rail

Greg Hallam has been an historian with Queensland Rail since 2000, educating staff and public alike on the proud history of the organisation, which commenced in Ipswich in 1864.

Foundry workers in front of C18 Boiler at Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, c.1915

Three C18 class steam locomotives were built at North Ipswich Workshops in 1914. The dashing new locomotives made big news, in their day andwere used on the main passenger trains on the Southern line on express trains to the border at Wallan-garra, and also being used on special occasions.  In early 1915, two of the locomotives were officially named, ‘Sir William MacGregor’ (No. 693), and ‘Lady MacGregor’ (No. 694) after the then retiring Governor of Queensland and his wife, at the instigation of the then Commissioner for Queensland Railways, Charles Evans, CMG. When he was visiting North Ipswich Workshops on 12 April, 1915, Evans personally fixed the brass name plates on C18 No. 693 (Sir Wm MacGregor).

Group of men from the Railway Workshops, in front of a C19 Class Locomotive, No. 70s, North Ipswich, 1923

Steam locomotive C19 No. 702 was the 100^th steam locomotive to be built at the North Ipswich Workshops. It entered service in December, 1923, and was named ‘Centenary’ in reference to being the 100^th locomotive to in June 1924. It was one of ten locomotives constructed between 1922 -24. The image shows the flourishes added by the workshops employees, including the brass kangaroo flag above the headlight on the front of the engine, holding the number ‘100’.   

Roundhouse at Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, 1910

From 1910 until 1969 the North Ipswich Roundhouse was the major focal point for steam locomotive operations from Ipswich, for the many railway lines that were centred on the Ipswich area. Up to 50 steam locomotives were ‘shedded’ at the Roundhouse, and worked on local branches to Marburg, Dugandan, Mount Edwards, Tivoil, and the Bundamba loop line collieries, along with trains to Toowoomba and Brisbane. Whitehead’s photo shows the Roundhouse when new in 1910.      

Railway engine no. 415, Ipswich Railway Workshops, North Ipswich, 1920s

Steam locomotive No. 415 was a C16 class engine built at North Ipswich Workshops in 1907. The third engine of this class, it was also the ninth engine built at Ipswich Workshops. Whitehead’s photograph shows the locomotive when new, and shortly before its entry into traffic – the clarity of the photo shows an engine ready to commence its long service career with the Queensland Railways.