WAGR S class

WAGR S Class 4-8-2 "Mountain" Type Locomotive[1]

Preserved S Class, 549 Greenmount seen at Harvey following restoration to working condition.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Frederick Mills
Builder WAGR Midland Workshops
Build date 1943–1947
Total produced 10
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-2 (Mountain)
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver diameter 4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm)
Length 69 ft 3 1⁄2 in (21.12 m)
Locomotive weight 119 long tons 6 cwt (267,200 lb or 121.2 t)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 7 long tons 0 cwt (15,700 lb or 7.1 t)
and 9 long tons 0 cwt (20,200 lb or 9.1 t)
Water capacity 5,000 and 2,500 imp gal (23,000 and 11,000 L; 6,000 and 3,000 US gal)
Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1,379 kPa)
Cylinder size 19 in × 24 in (483 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 30,685 lbf (136.49 kN)
Career
Operator(s) Western Australian Government Railways
Locale Western Australia
Retired 1971–1972
Withdrawn 1971–72

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 Western Australian mountains, following the tradition established 5 years earlier with the Pr Class pacifics, which were named after Western Australian rivers.[2]

Details of Design

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.

Operational history

Background

In the 1920s and 1930s 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.

Later history

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 Terminal, once the site of the East Perth Locomotive Depot.[3] S547 Lindsay is preserved on the Bellarine Railway in Victoria.[4]

Class list

The numbers, names and periods in service of each member of the S class were as follows:[5]

Road
number		 Earlier
number		 Name In service Withdrawn Notes
541 476 Bruce 11 February 1943 17 June 1971 Renumbered 6 October 1945.
542 477 Bakewell 26 June 1943 17 June 1971 Renumbered 21 September 1945. Large tender. Plinthed at East Perth Terminal, with tender from 547.
543 478 Brockman 17 September 1943 17 June 1971 Renumbered 9 October 1945. Large tender.
544 Hallowell 26 October 1945 17 June 1971 Large tender.
545 Dale 15 December 1945 17 June 1971 Large tender.
546 Egerton 5 July 1947 17 June 1971
547 Lindsay 9 August 1947 17 June 1971 Large tender. Preserved at Bellarine Railway, Victoria, with tender from 542.
548 Gardner 15 September 1947 17 June 1971
549 Greenmount 9 October 1947 14 August 1972 Preserved by Rail Heritage WA.
550 Hardie 10 November 1947 17 June 1971

Namesake

There is also a diesel S class.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Finlayson, D., 'Steam Around Perth', 1986, Australian Railway Historical Society W.A. Division, Perth, p.50
  2. ↑ Gunzburg 1984, p. 117.
  3. ↑ McNicol, Steve. (1994) W.A.G.R. Steam Locomotives in Preservation Elizabeth, SA. Railmac Publications
  4. ↑ "RailPage Locomotive File". Railpage.org.au. 25 January 1995. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Gunzburg 1984, p. 119.

Bibliography

  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 7–9, 47. OCLC 219836193.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

External links

Media related to WAGR S class at Wikimedia Commons