WAGR U class

WAGR U class

U655 at the Rail Transport Museum, Bassendean.

U655 at the Rail Transport Museum, Bassendean.
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Career
Operator(s) Western Australian Government Railways

The WAGR U class was a class of 4-6-2 tender engine steam locomotives used by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1946 and the late 1960s.

History

In 1942, the North British Locomotive Company built 55 locomotives almost identical to the 220 class of the Sudan Railways. The new locomotives were intended to be available for use on various 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge railways operated by the Sudan, Nigeria, Gold Coast, Belgian Congo, French Ocean Congo and Rhodesian Railways, depending upon the course of the World War II battles in North Africa. Unlike the 220 class, which burned coal, the new locomotives were equipped as oil burners, although they had provision for rapid conversion to coal burning, if necessary.[1]

Of the 55 new locomotives, 35 were sent overseas in 1942 and 1943. The remaining 20 were stored unassembled at the Melbourne Military Railway, near Derby, England. In 1946, six of these went to the Nyasaland Railways for use on the Trans-Zambesi Railway, and the other 14 were sent to Western Australia, where they became the WAGR U class.[1]

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the U class were as follows:[2]

Builder's
number		 Road
number		 In service Withdrawn Notes
24854 651 30 November 1946 6 October 1969
24859 652 7 December 1946 6 October 1969
24864 653 14 December 1946 6 October 1969
24862 654 21 December 1946 6 October 1969
24863 655 25 January 1947 10 September 1970 Preserved by Rail Heritage WA.
24867 656 7 February 1947 22 July 1969
24865 657 14 February 1947 6 October 1969
24866 658 14 February 1947 6 October 1969
24861 659 28 February 1947 6 October 1969
24843 660 7 March 1947 6 October 1969
24844 661 14 March 1947 6 October 1969
24860 662 21 March 1947 6 October 1969
24842 663 28 March 1947 6 October 1969
24841 664 4 April 1947 6 November 1956 Converted to Ut class, 1957; preserved by Rail Heritage WA.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gunzburg 1984, p. 128.
  2. ↑ Gunzburg 1984, p. 129.

Bibliography

  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 16–19, 47. OCLC 219836193.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.
  • Tourret, R (1995). Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War. Abingdon: Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-06-X, Chapter 30.

External links

Media related to WAGR U class at Wikimedia Commons