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Walkers Limited

From Canetrains

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. Rebuilt by Mulgrave Mill 2025.
(Blank) Walkers 0-6-0DH 570 1956 Mourilyan Bulk Sugar Terminal Out of service Former Mourilyan #11. Preserved in private ownership in Melbourne, Victoria.
Tully 4 Walkers GH500 622 1969 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH40; rebuilt by Walkers in 1996.
Tully 5 Walkers GH500 650 1969 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH63; rebuilt by Walkers in 1993.
Tully 6 Walkers GH500 653 1970 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH66; rebuilt by Walkers in 1993.
Clem H McComiskie Walkers / R Solari GH500 605 1969 / 1991 / 2004 Victoria Mill Victoria Mill Rebuilt by Walkers in 1991. Rebuilt again by R Solari in 2004.
Herbert II Walkers GH500 612 1969 / 1993 Victoria Mill Victoria Mill ex DH30. Rebuilt by Walkers 1993.
12 Walkers GH700V 680 1972 Victoria Mill Proserpine Mill Walkers 680 of 1972; formerly Westrail M1851. Rebuilt by Bundaberg Foundry in 1996 and operated at Victoria Mill as JOURAMA. Rebuilt again at Pioneer in 2022 and transferred to Proserpine Mill as No.12 on 7 April 2022.
14 Walkers GH700V 681 1972 Victoria Mill Proserpine Mill Walkers 681 of 1972; formerly Westrail M1852. Rebuilt by Bundaberg Foundry in 1997 and operated at Victoria Mill as CAIRNS. Later transferred to Proserpine Mill as No.14. Rebuilt again at Pioneer in 2022 and returned to Proserpine on 18 May 2022.
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 Ex QR DH56 and Cooks Construction CC03; rebuilt by Tully in 2013.
Tully 7 Walkers GH500 657 1970 Racecourse Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH70; rebuilt in 1994. Ex Balberra, Racecourse Mill; transferred to Tully in 2008.
Tully 8 Walkers GH500 606 1969 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH24 and Cooks Construction CC05; rebuilt by Bundaberg Foundry in 2004.
Tully 9 Walkers GH500 618 1969 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH36 and Cooks Construction CC06; rebuilt by Tully in 2010.
D1 Walkers GH500 602 1969 Isis Central Mill Isis Central Mill Ex QR DH20. Rebuilt 1991; operational as Isis #1 (Jan 2026).
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 - 1998
D6 Walkers GH500 610 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 Millaquin Mill Converted by Bundaberg Foundry - 1996. Photographed in cane service in November 2025.
Tully 2 Walkers GH500 586 1968 Tully Mill Tully Mill Ex QR DH4 and Cooks Construction CC01. Rebuilt/converted by Tully in 2024.
D7 Walkers GH500 589 1969 Isis Central Mill Isis Central Mill Ex QR DH7. Rebuilt 2025.
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 Bundaberg Foundry in 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 1972 Farleigh Mill Farleigh Mill Converted by Walkers 1997
Netherdale Walkers GH700V 699 1972 Marian Mill Farleigh Mill
7304 Walkers GH700V 663 1970 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
7306 Walkers GH700V 665 1970 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
7308 Walkers GH700V 667 1971 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
7327 Walkers GH700V 689 1972 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
7332 Walkers GH700V 694 1972 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
7341 Walkers GH700V 703 1972 North Eton Central Mill Stored Stored at North Eton Depot
11 Walkers GH500 628 1969 Proserpine Mill Proserpine Mill Rebuilt Walkers 1996
Shirbourne Walkers GH700 673 1971 Proserpine Mill Invicta Mill Ex NSW SRA 7314. Acquired for Proserpine Mill and converted from 1435 mm to 610 mm gauge by Bundaberg Foundry in 1998 as Proserpine No.12. Its frame was transferred to Pioneer Mill in 2022 for use as the basis of a future rebuild after Walkers 680 became the replacement Proserpine No.12. Rebuilt by Wilmar in 2025 as the 40-tonne RSU locomotive SHIRBOURNE for Invicta 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
DH41 Walkers GH500 623 1969 Fairymead Mill Out of service Ex Queensland Railways DH41. Purchased by Bundaberg Sugar in 1995 for proposed rebuilding but remained unrebuilt and 1067 mm gauge. Stored at Bush Paddock near Fairymead by December 2012 and still stored there in early 2023. Arrived at DownsSteam, Drayton, in October 2024 and subsequently restored. Returned to operational railway service by October 2026, including heritage operations with DH45 to Thallon.
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