About The Moura railway line is a railway in central Queensland, connecting several coal mines to the port of Gladstone. It connects the remnants of several lines that previously connected to Rockhampton, originally by a rack railway. The Dawson Valley railway line was built from near Rockhampton, opening in 1898, and the Callide Valley railway line opened in 1917, both having a north–south alignment. In 1953, a spur line opened to serve the Callide Mine, and another to serve the Moura coal mine opened in 1963, both mines shipping coal to Gladstone via Rockhampton, a ~270 km distance. As coal volumes grew a direct line to Gladstone was proposed, and the 151 km Moura Short Line opened in 1968, being the first 'S' (Special) class line in Queensland, with an 18 tonne axle load at the time. It commenced at Graham railway station (in Calliope) on the Monto line, connecting to the Callide Valley line (and the Callide Coalfields) at Earlsfield railway station (in Jambin), and connecting to the Dawson Valley line at Moura Mine Junction, 12 km east of the town of Moura. Before the Moura Short Line opened, the largest QR steam locomotive, known as a Garratt, could haul a 750-ton coal load to Gladstone via Rockhampton. After the line opened, triple headed diesel hauled trains took 4000 ton coal loads direct to Gladstone. Rollingstock Ran on the line 1270 class Years built: 1964 - 1966 Prime mover: English Electric 12SVT Mk II Top Speed 80km/h: (50 mph) Tractive effort: 272 - 300 kN ( 61,000 - 67,000 lbf) 1300 class Years built: 1967 - 1972 Prime mover: English Electric 12CSVT Mk II Top Speed: 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Tractive effort: 270 kN (60,698 lbf) 2350 class Years built: 1973 - 1974 Prime mover: English Electric 12CSVT Mk III Top Speed: 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Tractive effort: 348 kN (78,008 lbf) 2370 class Years built: 1975 Prime mover: English Electric 12CSVT Mk III Top Speed: 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) Power output: 2550 hp (1900 kW) 2150 class Years built: 1978 - 1979 Prime mover: Electro-Motive Diesel GL26AC Top Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph) Tractive effort: 286 kN (64,295 lbf) May have run on the line not 100% sure Years built: 1967 - 1969 Prime mover: English Electric 6CSRKT mark 2 Top Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph) Tractive effort: 185 kN (41, 589 lbf) 1720 class Years built:1966 - 1970 Prime mover: Electro-Motive Diesel 645E Top Speed: 100 kp/h (62 mph) Tractive effort: 176kN (69,566 lbf) 2100 class Years built: 1970 - 1973 Prime mover: Electro-Motive Diesel 645E Top Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph) Tractive effort: 286 kN (64,295 lbf) 2400 Years built: 1977 - 1978 Prime mover: EMD 12-645E Top Speed: 100km/h (60mph) Tractive effort: 224kN (50,357 lbf) 2450 Years built: 1979 - 1980 Prime mover: EMD 12-645E Top Speed: 100km/h (60mph) Tractive effort: 224kN (50,357 lbf) 2470 Years built: 1980 - 1983 Prime mover: EMD 12-645E Top Speed: 100km/h (60mph) Tractive effort: 224kN (50,357 lbf) 2170 Years built: 1982 - 1984 Prime mover: EMD 16-645E Top Speed:100 km/h (62 mph) Tractive effort: 286 kN (64,000 lbf)
