"Peter Ford"

No. 1037 - Vulcan Foundry 5963

No.1037 was constructed by The Vulcan Foundry, Lancashire and entered service with Queensland Railways in July 1951. It was retired from Mackay in March 1970, becoming the last QR steam engine in service in the region. Following withdrawal from service, Queensland Railways made No.1037 available for display at Mackay and it was placed on display at the old Mackay railway station. Around 2000, Queensland Railways donated No.1037 to a group of local rail enthusiast (known as Mackay Heritage Railway Inc.) for restoration to operation

BB18 1/4 Class Background

The BB18¼ class locomotive is a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways. They were an improved version of the B18¼ class. They did the same work throughout their lives as the earlier B18 1/4, even at the beginning being seen on goods, mixed, suburban and long distance passenger trains. The first 35 BB18¼ class locomotives were built by the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, England in 1950/51. A further 20 built by Walkers Limited, Maryborough between 1955 and 1958. No. 1089 was the last steam engine placed into service on a mainline Australian railway.