William Alfred Webb
Encyclopedia
William A. Webb was an American railroad engineer who was appointed Commissioner of the South Australian Railways
in 1923. He retired in 1930.
He rejuvenated and modernised this system, amidst a lot of controversy, especially regarding the cost.
The new locomotive classes were distinguished by numbers, such as 520
and 620
classes, rather than letters such as the older M
, R and Rx classes.
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...
in 1923. He retired in 1930.
He rejuvenated and modernised this system, amidst a lot of controversy, especially regarding the cost.
Developments
He introduced new and powerful classes of locomotives, often to American designs, even though they might be built by British firms. Bogie waggons replaced 4-wheelers, while buffer and chain couplings of the British type were replaced by the American Alliance type.The new locomotive classes were distinguished by numbers, such as 520
South Australian Railways 520 class
The South Australian Railways 520 class is a class of 4-8-4 steam locomotives that were built at Islington Workshops, the first entering service in 1943 through to the last of this class in 1947...
and 620
South Australian Railways 620 class
The South Australian Railways 620 class is a class of 10 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives built in the late 1930s, designed to operate on lightly laid 60-pound lines.- Development of the 620 class :...
classes, rather than letters such as the older M
South Australian Railways M class (second)
South Australian Railways M class was a group of twenty 2-4-2T engines sold to the SAR by the Victorian Railways for $3300 each between June 1920 to October 1922....
, R and Rx classes.