Walkers Limited
Appearance
Walkers Limited, based in Maryborough, Queensland, was a major heavy engineering firm. They are one of the most prolific builders of diesel-hydraulic locomotives for the Queensland sugar industry, particularly their successful B-B bogie designs.
History
Walkers produced a highly standardized range of diesel-hydraulic locomotives that became the backbone of many mill fleets in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their "GH" series (General Hydraulic) was robust and powerful, designed specifically for the increasing loads of cane trains. Many of these units have been rebuilt multiple times (often by the mills themselves or other engineering firms) and remain in service today.
Models and Classification
- GH500: A 500hp B-B diesel-hydraulic locomotive.
- GH700 / GH700V: A 700hp B-B diesel-hydraulic locomotive.
- 0-6-0DH: Earlier rigid-frame diesel-hydraulics.
Rollingstock
| Name | Builder | Model | Serial | Year | Purchasing Mill | Current Mill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordonvale | Walkers | GH500 | 595 | 1968 | Mulgrave Mill | Mulgrave Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry - 1995 |
| Mulgrave | Walkers | GH500 | 613 | 1969 | Mulgrave Mill | Mulgrave Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry - 1995 |
| (Blank) | Walkers | 0-6-0DH | 570 | 1956 | Mourilyan Bulk Sugar Terminal | Out of service | Also known as 11 at Mourilyan Mill. Private Owner - Victoria (LRRSA #193) |
| Tully 4 | Walkers | GH500 | 622 | 1965 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Walkers - 1996 |
| Tully 5 | Walkers | GH500 | 650 | 1969 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Walkers - 1993 |
| Tully 6 | Walkers | GH500 | 653 | 1970 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Walkers - 1993 |
| Clem H. McComskie | Walkers / R Solari | GH500 | 605 | 1969 / 1990 / 2004 | Victoria Mill | Victoria Mill | Rebuilt by Walkers in 1990. Rebuilt again by R Solari in 2004. |
| Herbert II | Walkers | GH500 | 612 | 1969 / 1993 | Victoria Mill | Victoria Mill | ex DH30. Rebuilt by Walkers 1993. |
| Jourama | Walkers | GH700V | M1851 | 1972 | Victoria Mill | Victoria Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry 1996 |
| Cairns | Walkers | GH700V | M1852 | 1972 | Victoria Mill | Victoria Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry 1997 |
| Victoria | Walkers | GH500 | 599 | 1968 | Victoria Mill | Plane Creek Mill | Converted by Tulk Goninan - 1994 |
| Tully 3 | Walkers | GH500 | 643 | 1970 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Tully Mill - 2013 |
| Tully 7 | Walkers | GH500 | 657 | 1970 | Racecourse Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Tulk Goninan - 1994 |
| Tully 8 | Walkers | GH500 | 606 | 1969 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry - 2004. |
| Tully 9 | Walkers | GH500 | 618 | 1969 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Tully Mill - 2010 |
| D1 | Walkers | GH500 | 602 | 1969 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Last rebuild by Isis - 1994 |
| D2 | Walkers | GH500 | 598 | 1968 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Rebuilt by Walkers - 1994 |
| D3 | Walkers | GH500 | 600 | 1968 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Rebuilt by Walkers - 1994 |
| D4 | Walkers | GH500 | 656 | 1970 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Rebuilt by Walkers - 1994 |
| D5 | Walkers | GH500 | 617 | 1969 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Rebuilt by Isis Mill - 1999 |
| D6 | Walkers | GH500 | 617 | 1969 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Rebuilt by Isis Mill - 2002 |
| Brake Van 1 | Walkers | GH500 | 654 | 1970 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Converted by Isis Mill - 1995 |
| Kolan | Walkers | GH500 | 633 | 1969 | Bingera Mill | Bingera Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry - 1996 |
| Tully 2 | Walkers | GH500 | 586 | 1968 | Tully Mill | Tully Mill | Converted by Tully Mill 2024. |
| D7 | Walkers | GH500 | TBA-4 | 2024 | Isis Central Mill | Isis Central Mill | Newly rebuilt 2025. No further information. |
| Clare | Walkers | GH500 | 655 | 1970 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Rebuilt - Tulk Goninan. 1995 |
| Piralko | Walkers | GH700 | 677 | 1971 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Last rebuilt - Invicta Mill 2017 |
| Hodel | Walkers | GH700 | 687 | 1972 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Last rebuilt - Pioneer Mill 2018 |
| Cromarty | Walkers | GH700 | 708 | 1973 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Last rebuilt - Pioneer Mill 2019 |
| Minkom | Walkers | GH700 | 710 | 1973 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Rebuilt Bundaberg Foundry 1995 |
| Scott | Walkers | GH700 | 711 | 1973 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Rebuilt by Pioneer Mill 2020 |
| Rita Island | Walkers | GH500 | 647 | 1970 | Pioneer Mill | Invicta Mill | Was Jarvisfield. Rebuilt by Pioneer Mill 2020 |
| Kilrie | Walkers | GH500 | 604 | 1969 | Invicta Mill | Invicta Mill | Rebuilt by Pioneer Mill 2021 |
| Giru | Walkers | GH500 | 625 | 1969 | Kalamia Mill | Invicta Mill | Was Rita Island. Rebuilt by Pioneer Mill 2023 |
| Allan Page | Walkers | GH500 | 594 | 1968 | Plane Creek Mill | Plane Creek Mill | Last rebuilt Pioneer Mill 2020 |
| Karloo | Walkers | GH500 | 632 | 1969 | Plane Creek Mill | Plane Creek Mill | Last rebuilt Bundaberg Foundry 1995 |
| Koumala | Walkers | GH500 | 651 | 1970 | Plane Creek Mill | Plane Creek Mill | Last rebuilt Pioneer Mill 2019 |
| Carmila | Walkers | GH700 | 676 | 1971 | Plane Creek Mill | Plane Creek Mill | Last rebuilt Proserpine Mill 2018 |
| Calen | Walkers | GH700V | 692 | 1972 | Farleigh Mill | Marian Mill | Rebuilt by Walkers 1995 |
| Miclere | Walkers | GH700V | 664 | 1970 | Farleigh Mill | Marian Mill | |
| Walkerston | Walkers | GH700V | 672 | 1971 | Pleystowe Mill | Farleigh Mill | Converted by Pleystowe 1994 |
| Tannalo | Walkers | GH700V | 705 | 1972 | Marian Mill | Farleigh Mill | Converted by Bundaberg Foundry 1995 |
| Cedars | Walkers | GHV700 | 693 | 1972 | Farleigh Mill | Farleigh Mill | Converted by Walkers 1997 |
| Dulverton | Walkers | GH700V | 690 | 1970 | Farleigh Mill | Farleigh Mill | Converted by Walkers 1997 |
| Netherdale | Walkers | GH700V | 699 | 1972 | Marian Mill | Farleigh Mill | |
| 7304 | Walkers | GH700V | 663 | 1970 | North Eton Mill | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7306 | Walkers | GH700V | 665 | 1970 | North Eton Mill | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7308 | Walkers | GH700V | 667 | 1971 | North Eton Mill | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7327 | Walkers | GH700V | 689 | 1972 | North Eton | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7332 | Walkers | GH700V | 694 | 1972 | North Eton Mill | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7341 | Walkers | GH700V | 703 | 1972 | North Eton Mill | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 11 | Walkers | GH500 | 628 | 1969 | Proserpine Mill | Proserpine Mill | Rebuilt Walkers 1996 |
| Shirbourne | Walkers | GH700V | 680 | 1972 | Victoria Mill | Proserpine Mill | Rebuilt 2025 |
| 14 | Walkers | GH700V | 681 | 1972 | Victoria Mill | Proserpine Mill | |
| Aramac | Walkers | C250 | 583 | 1968 | Pioneer Mill | Pioneer Mill | |
| Jardine | Walkers | GH500 | 592 | 1968 | Pioneer Mill | Pioneer Mill | Rebuilt 2018 |
| Jarvisfield | Walkers | GH500 | 611 | 1969 | Pioneer Mill | Invicta Mill | Was Jerona. Rebuilt 2020 |
| Allan Page | Walkers | GH500 | 630 | 1969 | Plane Creek | Plane Creek | Converted Pioneer Mill 2023 |