WAGR O class
O218 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderDübs & Co
Neilson & Co
Midland Railway Workshops
Build date1896-1912
Total produced56
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-0
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.3 ft 0 in (914 mm)
Length47 ft 4 in (14.43 m)
Total weight62 long tons 17 cwt (140,800 lb or 63.9 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Water cap.2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinder size15.5 in × 21 in (394 mm × 533 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort17,221 lbf (76.60 kN)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
NumbersO74-O100, O208-O226, Oa24, Oa171-173, Oa175-179, Oa219
PreservedO218
Disposition1 preserved, 55 scrapped

The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) O Class was a class consisting of fifty-six 2-8-0 steam locomotives which were introduced by the WAGR between 1896 and 1912. Despite them being tender locomotives, they also featured short boiler side tanks for additional water storage. A useful feature for the long distances required by operation on Western Australia's country lines.

History

Between 1896 and 1898, the WAGR took delivery of 36 O class locomotives from Neilson & Co with a further 10 built by Dübs & Co. They initially operated services on the Eastern Railway and on the South Western Railway to Collie before being superseded by the Ec and K classes and moving to branch line duties. In 1907/08, 10 O class were rebuilt as N Class suburban tank engines.[1][2][3]

Between 1909 and 1912, Midland Railway Workshops built a further 10 as the Oa class. The last examples of the O class were withdrawn from service in 1962.[1][2][3]

O218 has been preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum.[1][4] In April 2015, it moved to the Walkaway Station Museum on a five-year loan.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Whiteford, David; De Bruin, Charles; Watson, Lindsay; Watson, Neville (1983). Western Australian Preserved Locomotives. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. p. 11. ISBN 0 949817 19 8.
  2. 1 2 Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 52–55. ISBN 0 9599690 3 9.
  3. 1 2 Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. pp. 15, 48. ISBN 086417778X.
  4. ↑ O Class Rail Heritage WA
  5. ↑ O218 arrives at Walkaway Walkaway Station Museum
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