WAGR W Class
Encyclopedia
The "W" class is a group of narrow gauge steam locomotives operated by the WAGR and Silverton Tramway Co Ltd.
"W" class steam locomotive was first proposed by Chief Mechanical Engineer Fred Mills
in 1947. However, the death of Mills in 1949 put a hold on the project, with his successor, Clarke, taking up the project on his appointment later that year.
Mills had requested Beyer, Peacock and Company
to reserve capacity for their construction when the design was first proposed, however, by the time Clarke took over, Beyer, Peacock & Co. had identified a number of possible problems with the design. This led to a meeting in the UK in 1950, the outcome of which was a substantial redesign of the locomotive.
The resultant locomotive included many proprietary boiler and ancillary fittings, as well as parts interchangeability. The firebox was substantially altered to take into account the properties of Collie coal. This included a combustion chamber, thermic syphons and arch bar tubes.
The running gear is based heavily on Beyer, Peacock & Co.'s Standard Light Garratt
, which was built for the South Australian Railways
as its 400 class
Garratt. The first 40 were delivered partially erected, whilst the final 20 were fully assembled prior to shipping. The last 20 had larger tenders, capable of holding an additional 2500 litres (5,283.4 US pt). All were delivered between April 1951 and June 1952.
and G classes still working on lighter parts of the network
The class had a reputation for being free steamers and strong pullers.
Although they have a well-deserved reputation for their reliability, like any new class the W locos suffered some minor teething problems, including ashpan failures, and leaks in and around the foundation ring. The leaks were traced to faulty welding. The class suffered from stay failures in its early days, particularly in and around the throat plate. The first to fail was W913 in 1952. At one point, no less than 34 of the class were in Midland or the region depots for stay repair. The problem was traced back to the thermic syphons creating significant water movement in the area, overstressing the boiler plates, as well as problems with the quality of the original stays. The syphons were progressively removed over a seven year period, eliminating the problem..
Following the modification, the last of which was made in 1959, the class gave excellent service through to its retirement in 1971. As dieselisation of WAGR continued, the class was gradually moved to the southern parts of the network, where water and coal were available. Most of the class was scrapped in 1971, although 19 were held over at Midland through till 1972.
for the Silverton Tramway Company, Ltd
in Broken Hill, NSW.
These locomotives were basically the same as those built for the WAGR
, but included a cowling running from in front of the cab to the front of the smokebox. The Silverton locomotives were fitted with Westinghouse Air brakes, and an additional blow-down valve in the middle of the bottom of the boiler barrel.
The Silverton locomotives saw short service with the class being retired in 1961, after the Silverton dieselised.
Whilst most are still working on dedicated corridors, none work on a public railway network. The last train run on a public network was hauled by W's was in October 2006.
Partially because of their age, boiler problems appear to be emerging as a maintenance issue for the class. Most have had little more than routine maintenance since retirement from the WAGR.
Silverton Tramway
Engineering Background
The Western Australian Government RailwaysWestern Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
"W" class steam locomotive was first proposed by Chief Mechanical Engineer Fred Mills
Frederick Mills (engineer)
Frederick Mills was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Western Australian Government Railways from 1940 until his death in 1949...
in 1947. However, the death of Mills in 1949 put a hold on the project, with his successor, Clarke, taking up the project on his appointment later that year.
Mills had requested Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
to reserve capacity for their construction when the design was first proposed, however, by the time Clarke took over, Beyer, Peacock & Co. had identified a number of possible problems with the design. This led to a meeting in the UK in 1950, the outcome of which was a substantial redesign of the locomotive.
The resultant locomotive included many proprietary boiler and ancillary fittings, as well as parts interchangeability. The firebox was substantially altered to take into account the properties of Collie coal. This included a combustion chamber, thermic syphons and arch bar tubes.
The running gear is based heavily on Beyer, Peacock & Co.'s Standard Light Garratt
Garratt
A Garratt is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might...
, which was built for the South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways
South Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
as its 400 class
South Australian Railways 400 class
The South Australian Railways 400 class is a class of 4-8-2+2-8-4 steam locomotives built in the early 1950s. 400 class locomotives served mainly on the South Australian Railways' narrow gauge Broken Hill line from 1953 to 1963, when they were replaced by diesel locomotives...
Garratt. The first 40 were delivered partially erected, whilst the final 20 were fully assembled prior to shipping. The last 20 had larger tenders, capable of holding an additional 2500 litres (5,283.4 US pt). All were delivered between April 1951 and June 1952.
Operational history
The light axle load of the "W" class, 9.5t, gave it an availability across the entire WAGR Network. The class, essentially a freight engine, also hauled the crack passenger trains of the WAGR. It effectively replaced the aged OWAGR O Class
The WAGR O Class was a 2-8-0 type steam locomotive built for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1896. They were tender locomotives, but also featured short boiler side tanks for additional water storage useful in the long distance required by operation in Western Australia's country lines...
and G classes still working on lighter parts of the network
The class had a reputation for being free steamers and strong pullers.
Although they have a well-deserved reputation for their reliability, like any new class the W locos suffered some minor teething problems, including ashpan failures, and leaks in and around the foundation ring. The leaks were traced to faulty welding. The class suffered from stay failures in its early days, particularly in and around the throat plate. The first to fail was W913 in 1952. At one point, no less than 34 of the class were in Midland or the region depots for stay repair. The problem was traced back to the thermic syphons creating significant water movement in the area, overstressing the boiler plates, as well as problems with the quality of the original stays. The syphons were progressively removed over a seven year period, eliminating the problem..
Following the modification, the last of which was made in 1959, the class gave excellent service through to its retirement in 1971. As dieselisation of WAGR continued, the class was gradually moved to the southern parts of the network, where water and coal were available. Most of the class was scrapped in 1971, although 19 were held over at Midland through till 1972.
Sister Locomotives
Beyer, Peacock and Company built 4 additional engines (serial numbers 7418–7419, 7553–7554) to those ordered by the WAGRWestern Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
for the Silverton Tramway Company, Ltd
Silverton Tramway
The Silverton Tramway was an Australian long narrow gauge railway running from Cockburn on the South Australian state border to Broken Hill in New South Wales. Operating between 1888 and 1970 it served the mines of Broken Hill, and formed the link between the standard gauge New South Wales...
in Broken Hill, NSW.
These locomotives were basically the same as those built for the WAGR
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
, but included a cowling running from in front of the cab to the front of the smokebox. The Silverton locomotives were fitted with Westinghouse Air brakes, and an additional blow-down valve in the middle of the bottom of the boiler barrel.
The Silverton locomotives saw short service with the class being retired in 1961, after the Silverton dieselised.
Preservation
The "W" class have been the main stay of several tourist operators. Indeed the class have provided longer service to their tourist operator owners than they had to the WAGR.Whilst most are still working on dedicated corridors, none work on a public railway network. The last train run on a public network was hauled by W's was in October 2006.
Partially because of their age, boiler problems appear to be emerging as a maintenance issue for the class. Most have had little more than routine maintenance since retirement from the WAGR.
Class Disposal
WAGR- W901 - Stored Steamtown, Peterborough SASteamtown Peterborough MuseumSteamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. was a not-for-profit society which operated a heritage steam railway from Peterborough, South Australia north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line.Note: Though both the "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation...
- W903 - In Steam - Hotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra WA
- W907 - Stored Steamtown, Peterborough SASteamtown Peterborough MuseumSteamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. was a not-for-profit society which operated a heritage steam railway from Peterborough, South Australia north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line.Note: Though both the "Steamtown, Peterborough Railway Preservation...
- W908 - Stored - Hotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra WA.
- W916 - in steam as Silverton W22 - Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn SA.
- W919 - Static Display - Esperance Museum WA.
- W920 - In Steam - Hotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra WA.
- W924 - Purchased by Great Southern Steam, Albany, but not operated - Sold to the Ghan Preservation Society and shipped to Alice Springs - Currently on static display, but steamable.
- W931 - In Storage - Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn SA.
- W933 - In Storage - Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn SA.
- W934 - In Steam - Pichi Richi Railway, Quorn SA.
- W943 - Static Display - Collie Museum WA.
- W945 - Operational Hotham Valley Railway, Pinjarra WA.
- W947 - Sold to and used by Great Southern Steam, Albany. Static Display - Rail Heritage WA - (Sept 2009 - Purchased by Hotham Valley - awaiting transport to Pinjarra.
- W953 - Static Display - Rail Heritage WA
Silverton Tramway
Silverton Tramway
The Silverton Tramway was an Australian long narrow gauge railway running from Cockburn on the South Australian state border to Broken Hill in New South Wales. Operating between 1888 and 1970 it served the mines of Broken Hill, and formed the link between the standard gauge New South Wales...
- W22 "Justin Hancock" - preserved Puffing Billy Preservation Society IncPuffing Billy Railway, MelbourneThe Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia. The primary starting point, operations and administration centre, main refreshment room and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station...
until 1999 - Moved to Pichi Richi Railway - used for parts. - W23 "Thos A Birbeck" - Scrapped January 1970
- W24 "Malcom Moore" - Sulphide Street Museum, Broken Hill
- W25 "H F "Gerry" Walsh" - National Railway Museum, Port AdelaideNational Railway Museum (Port Adelaide)thumb|Conference dinner being held in the rollingstock pavilionThe National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia, is the current site of the Port Dock Station Railway Museum's vast Australian Railway Collection.- History :...