MRWA P class

The MRWA P class was a class of steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) and later the Midland Railway of Western Australia (MRWA) from 1896.

Midland Railway of Western Australia
P class
P class near Midland Junction
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderJames Martin & Co
Serial number134-135
Build date1896
Total produced2
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Length46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
Total weight51 long tons 05 cwt (114,800 lb or 52.1 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		13.87 sq ft (1.289 m2)
Boiler pressure140 lbf/in2 (0.97 MPa)
Cylinder size15 in × 20 in (381 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,333 lbf (41.52 kN)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
Midland Railway of Western Australia
NumbersP62, P63/P12
First runSeptember 1896
Dispositionall scrapped

History

In July and August 1896, the WAGR took delivery of two steam locomotives from James Martin & Co, Gawler, South Australia. They were basically a 4-4-0 version of the WAGR's 4-6-0 G class, and identical to the South Australian Railways Z class, save for a bogie tender in place of the SAR six wheel tender.[1] They entered service on the Eastern Goldfields Railway with P63 hauling the inaugural service from Coolgardie to Kalgoorlie in September 1896.[2]

Both were sold in 1912 to the MRWA, however they were underpowered and after the delivery of its five new C class locomotives, were relegated to shunting duties at Midland Junction. In 1913, P62 commenced a 12-month lease to the Public Works Department. When it returned it was withdrawn and became a parts source for P63 which had been renumbered P12. Both were scrapped in 1929.[1][2][3]

See also

References
  1. Gunzburg, Adrian (1989). The Midland Railway Company Locomotives of Western Australia. Melbourne: Light Railway Research Society of Australia. p. 22. ISBN 0909340277.
  2. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 6. ISBN 086417778X.
  3. Gunzburg (1989), pp 22, 49.

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