| WAGR S Class 4-8-2 "Mountain" Type Locomotive[1] | |
|---|---|
| Preserved S Class, 549 'Greenmount' seen at Harvey following restoration to working condition. | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Frederick Mills |
| Builder | WAGR Midland Workshops |
| Build date | 1943–1945 |
| Total produced | 10 |
| Configuration | 4-8-2 (Mountain) |
| Gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Driver diameter | 4 ft (1.22 m) |
| Length | 69 ft 3½ in (22.09 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 119 tons 6 cwt |
| Fuel type | coal |
| Fuel capacity | 7 and 9 tons |
| Water capacity | 5000 and 2500 imp. gal |
| Boiler pressure | 200 lbf/in² |
| Cylinder size | 19 in × 24 in |
| Tractive effort | 30,685 lbf |
| Career | Western Australian Government Railways |
| Locale | Western Australia |
| Retired | 1971–1972 |
The WAGR S Class is a class of 1067mm narrow gauge 4-8-2 Mountain-type steam locomotives built by the Western Australian Government Railways, with construction beginning in 1943. The class was initially intended for service on both passenger and goods services on the Eastern Goldfields Railway between Perth and Kalgoorlie, though following the Second World War they worked primarily on the South West mainline. After suffering from a range of early problems (which led to controversy involving the designer Frederick Mills) the class became highly popular and was very successful, remaining in service until the very end of steam operation in Western Australia in 1972[1].
The locomotives were given running-board nameplates and were named after West Australian mountains, following the tradition established 5 years earlier with the Pr Class pacifics, which were named after West Australian Rivers.[2]
Contents |
The S Class locomotives were built as Mountain types, with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement, a configuration commonly used in Australia for heavy goods locomotives, smaller driving wheels giving increased power output but with reduced speed.
List of Names and Numbers[2]
Numbers in brackets indicate initial number.
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In the 1920s and 30's the West Australian rail systems were thoroughly run down. The vast majority of locomotives were well past their useful service life and many were badly in need of repairs. The P and Pr Class pacifics had helped alleviate pressure on aging passenger locomotives when introduced in 1924 and 1938 respectively, but more powerful machines were needed.
Three examples have survived into preservation. S549 "Greenmount" is preserved in working condition by Rail Heritage Western Australia, S542 "Bakewell" is plinthed at East Perth Railway Terminal, once the site of the East Perth Locomotive Depot.[3] S547 "Lindsay", is preserved on the Bellarine Peninsula Railway in Victoria.[4]
There is also a diesel S class.