Commonwealth Engineering

Commonwealth Engineering (Com-Eng) was a major Australian engineering firm that designed and built railway rolling stock. While best known for their work on standard and broad gauge passenger stock for state railways, they produced a significant number of diesel locomotives for the Queensland sugar industry during the transition from steam to internal combustion power in the 1950s and 1960s.

History

Com-Eng entered the sugar cane locomotive market in the mid-1950s. Their locomotives were manufactured at their Rocklea works in Brisbane, Queensland. The company established a classification system to denote the various models they produced, initially using a single letter code, and later a two-letter code where the first letter indicated the general type and the second indicated engine or transmission variations.

The company ceased production of cane locomotives as the market saturated and other builders like E.M. Baldwin and Clyde Engineering became dominant in the heavier horsepower categories.

Models and Classification

The Com-Eng classification system for sugar industry locomotives is as follows:

• Type A: 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical or Diesel Hydraulic. These were typically 14 to 18 tonnes with power output ranging from 150 to 205 hp.
• Type C: 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic. A lighter shunting unit weighing 9 to 12 tonnes with approximately 112 hp.
• Type F: 0-6-0 Diesel Hydraulic. A heavier unit for the time, weighing 19 to 25 tonnes with 250 to 277 hp.
• Type G: 4-wheel Diesel Mechanical. Very small units weighing 4 to 8 tonnes with 76 hp.
• Type N: B-B Diesel Hydraulic.

Production Notes

Until 1959 (up to serial number 35), classification was by the initial letter only. Later, a more complex scheme was introduced, and these codes were often applied retrospectively. The numbering system typically used the first two digits to denote the variant code (starting from 10) and the final digits as the serial number.

Significant Allocations

Com-Eng locomotives were found at mills right across the state, from the Southern districts to the Far North. Notable examples include the fleets at South Johnstone Mill and Mulgrave Mill, where they served as the backbone of the diesel fleet before the introduction of larger bogie locomotives.

Rollingstock

Name	Builder	Model	Serial	Year	Purchasing Mill	Current Mill	Notes
Mossman	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	B1719	1957	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Preserved at Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society, Woodford (Jan 2026).
Cook	Commonwealth Engineering	AL	AL3372	1964	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Sold to South Johnstone after Mossman closure; stored at Mourilyan (Jan 2026).
Ivy	Commonwealth Engineering	AL	AL4181	1965	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Sold to South Johnstone after Mossman closure; stored at Mourilyan (Jan 2026).
Douglas	Commonwealth Engineering	AL	AL2562	1963	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Sold to an unidentified private owner in Victoria after Mossman closure (Jan 2026).
Faugh-a-Balugh	Commonwealth Engineering	AL	AL4190	1965	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Sold to an unidentified private owner in Victoria after Mossman closure (Jan 2026).
Cattle Creek	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	B1724	1957	Cattle Creek Central Mill	Out of service	Transferred to Mossman for parts in 2003. Sold to South Johnstone after Mossman closure; stored at Mourilyan and scrapped by Jan 2026.
3	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1003	1955	Mulgrave Mill	Out of service	Retired 2018; dismantled 2019.
5	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1005	1955	Mulgrave Mill	Mulgrave Mill	Listed as available for service in May 2024. Seen shunting equipment in the locomotive yard 25 July 2024.
6	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1006	1955	Mulgrave Mill	Mulgrave Mill	Stored as of May 2024.
7 / Highleigh	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	B1010	1956	Mulgrave Mill	Mulgrave Mill
8 / Charringa	Commonwealth Engineering	AE	A1926	1958	Mulgrave Mill	Mulgrave Mill
9 / Meerawa	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3473	1964	Mulgrave Mill	Mulgrave Mill
1 / Josephine	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1821	1957	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
10 / Russell	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A2027	1958	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
6 / Allison	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C2234	1959	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
4	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1138	1960	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Was Harvey at Babinda. Rebuilt by IBS Engineering Supplies in 2015 and fitted for multiple operation.
7 / Morrison	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1239	1960	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
5	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH2460	1962	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Was Bramston at Babinda. Rebuilt by IBS Engineering Supplies in 2015 and fitted for multiple operation.
9 / Bartle-Frere	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH3979	1964	Babinda Central Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
8 / Miriwinni	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	AA1543	1960	Mourilyan Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Mourilyan #6; formerly Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL16 Korabine. Converted from diesel-mechanical to diesel-hydraulic in 1983 and fitted for multiple operation in 1999.
7	Commonwealth Engineering	AJ	AJ2359	1962	Mourilyan Mill	Lautoka Mill	Last seen 2020
DL15 Nerada	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	B1111	1956	Mourilyan Mill	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL15 Nerada. Transferred to Mourilyan in 1977; later Babinda #19. Dismantled at Babinda in December 2005; engine and gearbox sold to Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society.
26 / Meringa	Commonwealth Engineering	AK	AK3675	1964	South Johnstone Mill	Mulgrave Mill	Was South Johnstone #2
12 / Riverstone	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1452	1961	South Johnstone Mill	Mulgrave Mill	Ex South Johnstone #23; rebuilt by Mulgrave in 2016.
27	Commonwealth Engineering	AI	AI57111	1975	South Johnstone Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Queensland Railways DL20 Pin Gin. Generally used for navvy duties as of May 2024.
28	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	AA1544	1960	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL17 CURRAJAH. Dismantled in 2021.
31	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C1125	1957	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Stored out of use at Babinda in 2006 awaiting rebuilding. By late 2006 it had been stripped of useful parts; the remains were placed near the locoshed and reported destined for a tourist resort. Later disposition not established.
36	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1102	1955	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Former South Johnstone #16; renumbered #36 after 2001. Stored out of use at Babinda in 2006, stripped of remaining useful parts and removed as scrap by late October 2006.
39	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4688	1965	South Johnstone Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Paired with #38; rebuilt by South Johnstone in 2017.
38	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4695	1965	South Johnstone Mill	South Johnstone Mill	Paired with #39; rebuilt by South Johnstone in 2017.
10	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1341	1960	Tully Mill	Tully Mill	Navvy duties. 2025.
Tully 11	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1347	1960	Tully Mill	Tully Mill	Paired with Tully 16. 2024
Tully 12	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1351	1961	Tully Mill	Out of service	Stored out of use at Tully Mill as of August 2023.
Tully 14	Commonwealth Engineering	AK	AK2663	1963	Tully Mill	Tully Mill	Navvy duties. 2025
Tully 16	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4484	1964	Tully Mill	Tully Mill	Paired with Tully 11. 2024.
Tully 17	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH52100	1966	Tully Mill	Out of service	Stored at Tully Mill (2025).
Tully 18	Commonwealth Engineering	AO	AO60113	1977	Tully Mill	Tully Mill	Navvy duties. 2025
2	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1001	1955	Mulgrave Mill	Out of service	Donated to Atherton-Herberton Historic Railway in 2017. Stripped to footplate level and being converted to 1067 mm gauge.
4	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1004	1955	Mulgrave Mill	Out of service	Dismantled by 2011.
Tully 15	Commonwealth Engineering	AK	AK3574	1964	Tully Mill	Out of service	Stored out of use at Tully Mill as of August 2023.
Dunethin	Commonwealth Engineering	AC	H1022	1958	Moreton Central Mill	Lautoka Mill	Now #118. Transferred 2019.
DL14 Johnstone	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	B1112	1956	Mourilyan Mill	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL14 JOHNSTONE; later Mourilyan #8 and Moreton YANDINA. Rebuilt by Moreton in 1994 as JAMAICA using mechanical equipment from Baguley JAMAICA 3389. Later privately preserved in Bundaberg.
Tegege	Commonwealth Engineering	FD	FD4799	1966	Fairymead Mill	Millaquin Mill
Thistle	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1207	1955	Gin Gin Central Mill	Out of service	Out of use; stored at Bingera depot as of October 2025.
Invicta	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1513	1956	Bingera Mill	Millaquin Mill	Listed as available for service in April 2024.
Sharon	Commonwealth Engineering	AE	A1935	1959	Bingera Mill	Out of service	Out of use; stored at Bingera depot as of October 2025.
Wattle	Commonwealth Engineering	FD	FD4789	1965	Bingera Mill	Millaquin Mill	Used as breakdown cover. Photographed hauling cane in October 2025.
Burnett	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH2967	1963	Bingera Mill	Out of service	Stored out of use as of April 2024.
Eric. M. Plomley	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	G1023	1958	Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal	Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal	Rebuilt 2017
Haughton	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH3878	1964	Invicta Mill	Invicta Mill
D4	Commonwealth Engineering	FA	FA1037	1960	Plane Creek Mill	Plane Creek Mill
22 Pinnacle	Commonwealth Engineering	AN	AN5849	1975	Marian Mill	Racecourse Mill	Rebuilt 1975 from ComEng, AA, AA1549
Eton	Commonwealth Engineering	FB	FB3170	1963	North Eton Central Mill	Farleigh Mill	Navvy Duties
Septimus	Commonwealth Engineering	AE	A2128	1958	North Eton Central Mill	Out of service	Decommissioned and moved into undercover storage at North Eton in 2012; still listed as stored in 2024.
Barcoo	Commonwealth Engineering	FB	FB4383	1965	North Eton Central Mill	Out of service	Stored at North Eton as of 2024.
47 Pioneer	Commonwealth Engineering	AI	AI2358	1962	Farleigh Mill	Out of service	Stored at North Eton; still listed as stored in 2024.
48 Carlisle	Commonwealth Engineering	AI	AI3271	1963	Farleigh Mill	Out of service	Stored at North Eton as of 2020.
Richmond	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1308	1955	Farleigh Mill	Out of service	Stored at North Eton as of 2024. Side rods and probably wheelsets were removed for use at Mossman in September 2012.
Finch Hatton	Commonwealth Engineering	NA	NA59112	1977	Cattle Creek Central Mill	Out of service	Comeng model NA B-B diesel-hydraulic. Had not operated for over a decade and was stored at North Eton as of 2024.
Keebah	Commonwealth Engineering	AF	C2231	1958	Inkerman Mill	Inkerman Mill
Osborne	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH2866	1963	Inkerman Mill	Inkerman Mill
Koolkuna	Commonwealth Engineering	AM	AM4993	1965	Inkerman Mill	Inkerman Mill
Alma	Commonwealth Engineering	FE	FE56110	1975	Inkerman Mill	Out of service	Out of use since 2002; engine removed in 2005. Gutted and de-wheeled, and still stored in the Inkerman mill yard in August 2020.
Delta	Commonwealth Engineering	FD	FD5094	1965	Kalamia Mill	Kalamia Mill
Barratta	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AH4098	1965	Invicta Mill	Kalamia Mill
Northcote	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4091	1965	Invicta Mill	Kalamia Mill
Chiverton	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C1030	1958	Kalamia Mill	Kalamia Mill
Kalamia	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1409	1955	Kalamia Mill	Out of service	Out of use for many years; gutted by August 2020 with hood, rods, some cranks and engine removed. Listed as stored at Kalamia in May 2024.
Inkerman	Commonwealth Engineering	FB	FB3169	1963	North Eton Central Mill	Pioneer Mill
D8	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3777	1964	Plane Creek Mill	Plane Creek Mill	Transferred from Plane Creek on 9 December 2019 and stored at Pioneer Mill by June 2020. Listed again with the Plane Creek fleet as stored in 2024.
Selkirk	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C1015	1957	Invicta Mill	Out of service	Ex Kalamia NORHAM; later Invicta SCOTT. Converted from locomotive SCOTT to unpowered brake wagon SELKIRK about 1985.
Clare	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4080	1964	Invicta Mill	Out of service	Former Invicta #3 CLARE. Converted from 0-6-0DH locomotive to unpowered brake wagon in 1982.
17 / Deeral	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1453	1962	South Johnstone Mill	Mulgrave Mill
72	Commonwealth Engineering	GA	GA1148	1961	Fairymead Mill	Out of service	Fairymead #72, formerly #7 and #71. Preserved; LRRSA recorded in private preservation, Melbourne VIC (2011).
3	Commonwealth Engineering	FA	FA1036	1959	Plane Creek Mill	Out of service	Out of use by 1997; dismantled by 1999.
7	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3776	1964	Plane Creek Mill	Plane Creek Mill	In active service. Last seen 11/10/2026 in the Dawlish, Mackay area.
3 / Dalrymple	Commonwealth Engineering	AL	AL4892	1965	Cattle Creek Central Mill	Out of service	Ex Cattle Creek DALRYMPLE. Transferred to Mackay Sugar in 1991 and later numbered 3. Stored at North Eton; disposed of for scrap by June 2012.
Ashburton	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1614	1956	Farleigh Mill	Out of service	Dismantled in 1995; dismantled remains were still recorded at Farleigh in 2003.
Ivanhoe	Commonwealth Engineering	GA	GA1042	1960	Kalamia Mill	Out of service	Acquired by Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society from Kalamia in 2006; restored and officially commissioned into service at Albion Park in November 2014.
Airdmillan	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH3068	1963	Kalamia Mill	Invicta Mill	Listed as available for service in the Invicta fleet in May 2024.
Invicta	Commonwealth Engineering	CA	CA1040	1960	Invicta Mill	Out of service	After later service primarily as a navvy locomotive, placed on permanent display at Invicta Mill in 2021 for the mill centenary; still listed on display in 2024.
Alex S. Hamilton	Commonwealth Engineering		F1018	1957	Mackay Bulk Sugar Terminal	Out of service	Commonwealth Engineering F1018 of 1957, named ALEX S HAMILTON after the Chairman of the Mackay Harbour Board. Delivered new to Mackay Bulk Sugar Terminal and used to shunt sugar-box wagons. Later disposition not established.
(Blank)	Commonwealth Engineering		F1029	1958	Townsville Bulk Sugar Terminal	Out of service	1067 mm gauge. In service at Townsville Bulk Sugar Terminal by 1978. Subsequently transferred to Mackay Bulk Sugar Terminal. Advertised for sale at Mackay Harbour in June 1998 with the terminal's QGR sugar-box equipment. Purchased by Southern Downs Steam Railway for $11,000 and delivered to Warwick on 10 May 1999.

Sources

• Light Railway Research Society of Australia (LRRSA).
• Notes on Locomotive Classification and Numbering (Historical Document).
• Zelmer, L. (2004). Australian Canefield Locomotives.