The 1270 class was devised by English Electric engineer Stan Lyons, based on the body design of North American road switcher but using the same engine and generator as the 1250 class.

The remaining units had improved English Electric 548 traction motors with a slightly higher tractive effort.

[1] In 1965, 1281 was named Century and painted in a commemorative gold and white livery to mark the centenary of the first railway in Queensland.

[2] The 1270 class were displaced from coal traffic with the electrification of coalfields lines from 1986.

Two units were retained by the Queensland Rail Heritage Division[2][4] and the remainder were scrapped.