Queensland Government Railway No. 988

Queensland Government Railway No. 988 is class C17, and one of 25 remaining steam locomotives built for the Queensland Government Railway.
==History==
Built by Walkers in 1953 it is one of Queensland Railways' highly successful C17 class 4-8-0 locomotives of which 227 units were constructed by a variety of builders between 1920 and 1953.
No. 988 was placed in Queensland Government Railways service during June 1952 and written off in November 1969 after a working life of 17 years. Following retirement it was placed in a Cairns park on behalf of Trinity Bay Lions and Rotary clubs, with ownership if the locomotive remaining with Queensland Rail. Apparently No. 988 was later removed from the park and displayed at Cairns station in connection with a local rail historical event.  
It is now placed on static display at the Archer Park Station & Museum.
==Trivia==
*A change in No. 988's fortunes came during November 2001 when it was leased by QR to Movieworld, Coomera. It moved from Cairns to the south of the state, being cosmetically restored and painted to bright red livery to represent "No. 5972 Hogwarts Castle" of Harry Potter fame and becoming the centrepiece of the Harry Potter display at Movieworld.
*It has been on display at the Archer Park Station & Museum since May 25, 2011, when it was relocated, and is displayed under the station roof in authentic Brown Bomber livery of mid-brown with green lining.
*No. 988 was assessed for overhaul by Queensland Rail (QR) in late 1980's with a view to use on their popular tourist train which runs from Cairns up the escarpment to the market town of Kuranda. Unfortunately this restoration did not proceed and No. 988 was subsequently stored in Cairns yard for several years, apparently somewhat incomplete and sans boiler cladding.
Category:Australian Locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Built in 1953
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:4-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:4-8-0 locomotives
Category:Queensland Locomotives
Category:Australian Steam Locomotives
Category:Red Livery Engines
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives