The 2600 class entered service on the McNaughton and Newlands lines. They were based at Pring depot near Bowen, and were a standard General Electric export model (similar locomotives were also used in Brazil, Nigeria and Tunisia). Between July 2000 and May 2001, all 13 were rebuilt by A Goninan & Co with cab extensions (the stock GE cab was replaced with the standard Queensland Rail "maxicab"). Their weight increased to 109.3 tonnes (107.6 long tons; 120.5 short tons). They were then placed in service on the Mount Isa line.[1][2][3]
All were withdrawn in 2011 and in May 2012 exported to South Africa with seven going to African Rail & Traction Services and six to RRL Grindrod.[4]