The 1170 class were a class of diesel locomotive built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough for Queensland Railways between 1956 and 1958.
History The 1170 class were intended as a replacement for the PB15 class steam locomotives on branch lines. They were built by Walkers Limited in Maryborough under licence from GE Transportation.Walkers/IGE 1170 Class Queensland's Railway Interest Group1170 Class Queensland Great Trains
When the class leader entered service in January 1956 it was numbered 1270, so the class would’ve been called the 1270 class (not to be confused with the later 1270 class), but later that year it was renumbered as 1500, and subsequent locomotives would be numbered 1501-1511. In 1965 the locomotives were renumbered 1170-1181, and for the rest of their lives they were known as the 1170 class.
The class were popularly known as 'Paw Paws' after a racehorse, which in turn was named after a character in a contemporary cartoon strip.
They spent most of their working lives based at Townsville but in later years were used around Brisbane and the southern region of the state as shunters. The first unit was withdrawn in 1984 with the final two withdrawn in 1989.
Five units have been preserved, including class leader 1170 retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division at North Ipswich.Diesel Locomotives Association of Tourist Railways Queensland 13 March 2011. 1181 Formly located at Herberton Railway Museum is now located at Southern Downs Steam Railway, Warwick waiting an audit and evaluation before being considered for full restoration to operational service.
Status table 1500classnumber 1270classnumber 1170classnumber Serialnumber In service Withdrawn Scrapped Notes 1500 1270 1170558Preserved, Queensland Rail Heritage Fleet, North Ipswich 1501 1271 1171559 1502 1272 1172560Preserved, privately owned. Now operational at Bell Railway Station Bell progress and heritage Ass 1503 1273 1173561 1504 1274 1174562 1505 1275 1175563 1506 1276 1176564 1507 1277 11775652018?Formerly Preserved, stripped for parts for 1172 and 1179. Remaining shell scrapped. 1508 1278 1178566 1509 1279 1179567Preserved, Rosewood Railway Museum 1510 1280 1180568 1511 1281 1181569Preserved, Herberton Railway Museum, carries number 1181
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