diff --git a/common/workunit/wujobq.cpp b/common/workunit/wujobq.cpp
index 6ac786c5608..e97543f933a 100644
--- a/common/workunit/wujobq.cpp
+++ b/common/workunit/wujobq.cpp
@@ -179,18 +179,6 @@ class CJobQueueItem: implements IJobQueueItem, public CInterface
         enqueuedt.setString(dts.str());
     }
 
-
-
-    IJobQueueItem* clone()
-    {
-        IJobQueueItem* ret = new CJobQueueItem(wu);
-        ret->setPriority(priority);
-        ret->setPriority(port);
-        ret->setEndpoint(ep);
-        ret->setSessionId(sessid);
-        return ret;
-    }
-
     void setPriority(int _priority)
     {
         priority = _priority;
@@ -1445,24 +1433,6 @@ class CJobQueue: public CJobQueueBase, implements IJobQueue
         return dotake(qd,wuid,false);
     }
 
-    unsigned takeItems(sQueueData &qd,CJobQueueContents &dest)
-    {
-        Cconnlockblock block(this,true);
-        unsigned ret = copyItemsImpl(qd,dest);
-        clear(qd);
-        return ret;
-    }
-
-    void enqueueItems(sQueueData &qd,CJobQueueContents &items)
-    {
-        unsigned n=items.ordinality();
-        if (n) {
-            Cconnlockblock block(this,true);
-            for (unsigned i=0;i<n;i++)
-                enqueue(qd,items.item(i).clone());
-        }
-    }
-
     void enqueueBefore(IJobQueueItem *qitem,const char *wuid)
     {
         Cconnlockblock block(this,true);
@@ -1470,7 +1440,6 @@ class CJobQueue: public CJobQueueBase, implements IJobQueue
         enqueueBefore(*qd,qitem,wuid);
     }
 
-
     void enqueueAfter(IJobQueueItem *qitem,const char *wuid)
     {
         Cconnlockblock block(this,true);
@@ -1739,24 +1708,6 @@ class CJobQueue: public CJobQueueBase, implements IJobQueue
         }
         return NULL;
     }
-    unsigned takeItems(CJobQueueContents &dest)
-    {
-        assertex(qdata);
-        if (!qdata->next)
-            return takeItems(*qdata,dest);
-        Cconnlockblock block(this,true);
-        unsigned ret = 0;
-        ForEachQueue(qd) {
-            ret += copyItemsImpl(*qd,dest);
-            clear(*qd);
-        }
-        return ret;
-    }
-    void enqueueItems(CJobQueueContents &items)
-    {  // enqueues to firs sub-queue (not sure that useful)
-        assertex(qdata);
-        return enqueueItems(*qdata,items);
-    }
 
     void clear()
     {
diff --git a/common/workunit/wujobq.hpp b/common/workunit/wujobq.hpp
index 9435f380c89..5a3cc35f095 100644
--- a/common/workunit/wujobq.hpp
+++ b/common/workunit/wujobq.hpp
@@ -22,6 +22,19 @@
 #include "jsocket.hpp"
 #include "dasess.hpp"
 
+/*
+ * The job queues have the following semantics.
+ *
+ * Items are queued with a given priority, at a given offset
+ * If no position is given, then the insertion position in the queue is determined by finding the first item with a lower priority
+ * If a position is given, then the priority may be adjusted to ensure it is consistent with the items before it and after it in the queue
+ *
+ * When an item is dequeued, the head of the queue is removed.
+ * - There is an option, currently used in thor, to say wait for up to 30 seconds if the priority at the header of the queue is lower
+ *   than the last item dequeued from that queue.  I think this is to ensure that high priority workunits get precedence even if there
+ *   are  short pauses between graphs.  However, this will prevent all thor instances from dequeuing for that period.
+ *
+ */
 interface IJobQueueItem: extends serializable
 {
     virtual const char *queryWUID()=0;
@@ -32,9 +45,8 @@ interface IJobQueueItem: extends serializable
 
     virtual unsigned getPort()=0;                   // conversation port (not used for DFU server)
     virtual bool equals(IJobQueueItem *other)=0;
-    virtual IJobQueueItem* clone()=0;
-    
-    virtual void setPriority(int priority)=0;
+
+    virtual void setPriority(int priority) [[deprecated]]=0;
     virtual void setOwner(const char *owner)=0;
     virtual void setEndpoint(const SocketEndpoint &ep)=0;  
     virtual void setPort(unsigned)=0;            
@@ -106,8 +118,6 @@ interface IJobQueue: extends IJobQueueConst
 
 //manipulation
     virtual IJobQueueItem *take(const char *wuid)=0; // finds and removes
-    virtual unsigned takeItems(CJobQueueContents &dest)=0;   // takes items and clears queue
-    virtual void enqueueItems(CJobQueueContents &items)=0;   // enqueues to first sub-queue 
     virtual bool moveBefore(const char *wuid,const char *nextwuid)=0;
     virtual bool moveAfter(const char *wuid,const char *prevwuid)=0;
     virtual bool moveToHead(const char *wuid)=0;