Disused locomotives spark concern among farmers as CBH ‘pillages’ them for parts to service its 10-train fleet

Seven disused locomotives parked up at CBH Group’s Beverley receival site were bought by the co-operative five years ago and “pillaged” for spare parts to service its ageing 10-train fleet, it can be revealed. Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks about why the Queensland Rail locomotives have been sitting idle while CBH tries to move last harvest’s bumper crop to port before the 2022-23 harvest starts to roll in. CBH has been under fire for failing to move enough grain to port, with fears last year’s $17 million demurrage bill could be repeated when the company hands down its results next month. Farmers have been asking why CBH has not bought more trains to bolster the existing 10 train fleet it bought for $175m in 2011. CBH chair Simon Stead said the company bought the seven locomotives on auction to take “componentry” out of them to repair its fleet. “They were basically end-of-life when we bought them... we have been told a lot are not manufactured anymore (the locomotives CBH uses) and we had to pillage them for parts to get three (CBH locomotives) going,” he said. Mr Stead made the comments at a meeting in Kulin late last month, where he was asked about the locomotives’ purpose. The cooperative declined to comment further.