Baguley

E.E. Baguley Ltd (later Baguley-Drewry) was a British engineering company based in Burton-on-Trent. They were a significant supplier of smaller diesel locomotives to the Queensland sugar industry in the post-war period, often working in conjunction with the Drewry Car Company.

History

The company was founded in 1911. For many years, Baguley acted as a manufacturing subcontractor for the Drewry Car Company. Locomotives sold under the "Drewry" name were often built by Baguley but carried Drewry works plates and numbers (typically in the 2xxx series). Locomotives sold directly by Baguley carried Baguley numbers (in the 3xxx series).

In 1964, Baguley acquired the Drewry Car Company to form Baguley-Drewry Ltd.

Models in Queensland

The Baguley locomotives supplied to Queensland were primarily 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical or diesel-hydraulic units. They were robust machines well-suited to the lighter track standards of the 1950s.

Engines

• Gardner 6LW: Fitted to the BG6 type (approx 110 hp).
• Gardner 8LW: Fitted to the BG8 type (approx 150 hp).

Nominal Horsepower Most units supplied to Queensland were rated at either 135 hp or 150 hp nominal.

Classification

• Baguley / Drewry: These units carried Drewry builder's numbers in the 2xxx series.
• Baguley / RMP: Some locomotives were supplied through Railway Mine & Plantation Equipment (RMP) as agents.
• Type BG6 / BG8: Designated the engine type (Gardner 6LW or 8LW).

Notable Examples

• Mulgrave Mill: Operated Baguley locomotives such as the "Jen" (later preserved).
• Mossman Mill: The locomotive "Mowbray" was a Baguley 0-6-0 DM built in 1954 and was the first diesel at the mill.
• Victoria Mill: Operated several Baguley/Drewry units including "Seymour" and "Herbert".

Rollingstock

Name	Builder	Model	Serial	Year	Purchasing Mill	Current Mill	Notes
Fishery	Baguley	BG8	3387	1954	Babinda Central Mill	Out of service	Taken out of service and stripped of engine and gearbox by 1998. Acquired by Bernie Baker, Parkes NSW, in late 2006 together with a suitable engine. Later disposition not established.
9	Baguley		2395	1952	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Ex South Johnstone #9. Sold to the Welsh Highland Railway in 2009, rebuilt at Dinas and returned to service as No. 9. The proposed name CASTELL CIDWM was not adopted.
10	Baguley	BG8	3390	1954	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL12 MOURILYAN. Acquired by Lake Macquarie Light Rail in 2010 after being stored out of use at Mourilyan; subsequently restored.
15	Baguley		2520	1954	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Preserved at the Locos Function Centre, Mourilyan.
(5)	Baguley		2396	1952	South Johnstone Mill	Out of service	Former South Johnstone #14, Baguley 2396. Converted in 1986 to unpowered brake wagon RS0014; recorded out of use at Mourilyan in 2007.
1	Baguley	BG6	3377	1953	Mulgrave Mill	Out of service	Preserved at ANGRMS, Woodford.
Dalrymple	Baguley		2391	1951	Victoria Mill	Out of service	Baguley works no. 2391, supplied to Victoria Mill. Recorded as scrapped by December 2010.
Seymour	Baguley		2392	1952	Victoria Mill	Out of service	Preserved operational at Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society, Albion Park; recorded hauling passenger trains in 2012.
Leichhardt	Baguley		2393	1952	Victoria Mill	Out of service	Sold by Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust in 2001; rebuilt and re-engined, arrived at Woody Bay in April 2013 and renamed PILTON.
Victoria	Baguley		2394	1952	Victoria Mill	Out of service	Worked at Victoria Mill as HERBERT by November 1974. Later carried the name VICTORIA and was preserved by Warwick Turner at Echuca. Sold from the Warwick Turner estate by 2019; subsequent disposition not established.
Herbert	Baguley		2404	1953	Victoria Mill	Out of service	Originally supplied to Hambledon Mill. Worked at Victoria Mill as VICTORIA by 1964 and was still recorded with that name in 1986. Later carried the name HERBERT; advertised for sale under that name in September 2010 and subsequently recorded in preservation with Chris Hart, Ingham.
Seaforth	Baguley		2514	1954	Kalamia Mill	Out of service	Ex Kalamia SEAFORTH and Hambledon #6. Converted in 1990 to Mulgrave six-wheel brake wagon #11; still recorded in service in 2022.
Lil Toot	Baguley	BG6	3354	1951	Inkerman Mill	Out of service	Built for Inkerman Mill as LI'L TOOT. Preserved in the Puffing Billy Railway collection, Victoria.
Mowbray	Baguley		3378	1954	Mossman Central Mill	Out of service	Sold to Kerosene Creek Tramway, NSW, after Mossman closure.
DL13 Innisfail	Baguley		3389	1954	Moreton Central Mill	Out of service	Later Moreton Mill JAMAICA. Its mechanical equipment was used in the 1994 rebuilding of Comeng B1112; the remaining locomotive was subsequently scrapped, with the cab later privately preserved.

Sources

• Zelmer, L. (2011). Baguley and Baguley-Drewry 2 ft gauge diesels supplied to sugar mills in Queensland and Fiji.
• Wikipedia (Baguley Cars Ltd).
• Douglas Shire Historical Society (Bally Hooley History).