WAGR N class

The WAGR N class was a class of steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) from 1896 until 1960.

Not to be confused with Westrail N class.

WAGR N class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderNeilson & Co
Robert Stephenson & Co
Nasmyth, Wilson & Co
Midland Railway Workshops
Total produced42
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-4T
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Driver dia.4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm)
Length36 ft 3 in (11.05 m)
Loco weight44 long tons 0 cwt (98,600 lb or 44.7 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Water cap1,600 imp gal (7,300 l; 1,900 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinder size15.5 in × 21 in (394 mm × 533 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort11,036 lbf (49.09 kN)
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
First runSeptember 1896
PreservedN201
Disposition1 preserved, 41 scrapped

History

In September 1896, five Neilson & Co built N class entered service hauling suburban trains around Perth between Fremantle and Midland Junction and on the Kalgoorlie-Boulder loop. Robert Stephenson & Co built a further twelve in 1898/99 and Nasmyth, Wilson & Co a further fifteen in 1901. In 1907/08 a further ten were added, when the Midland Railway Workshops converted ten O class. With the cessation of suburban services in Kalgoorlie, all were transferred to Perth.[1][2][3][4]

Most remained in service until replaced by Dm and Dd class locomotives in the 1940s and ADH class diesel multiple units in the 1950s. The last two were withdrawn in September 1960.[1][4]

N201 has been preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum.[5]

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the N class were as follows:[6]

Builder's
number		 Builder Year built Road
number		 In service Withdrawn Notes
600 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 1 26 June 1901 29 May 1958
601 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 19 2 July 1901 15 June 1940 Stowed 20 April 1940
602 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 20 23 August 1901 30 September 1940
603 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 25 16 August 1901 30 April 1954
604 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 26 21 August 1901 3 July 1953
605 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 27 29 August 1901 2 October 1953
606 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 132 2 September 1901 26 May 1953
4937 Neilson & Co 1896 69 18 September 1896 15 November 1950
4938 Neilson & Co 1896 70 12 September 1896 14 January 1954
4939 Neilson & Co 1896 71 19 September 1896 15 May 1950
4940 Neilson & Co 1896 72 14 September 1896 14 November 1946
4941 Neilson & Co 1896 73 10 October 1896 25 May 1955
4933 Neilson & Co 1896 75 27 June 1908 16 January 1951
4934 Neilson & Co 1896 76 2 May 1908 18 February 1960
4935 Neilson & Co 1896 77 16 May 1908 7 May 1958
4936 Neilson & Co 1896 78 27 June 1908 25 May 1955
5046 Neilson & Co 1896 79 13 June 1908 17 August 1951
5052 Neilson & Co 1896 85 21 December 1907 22 July 1955
5053 Neilson & Co 1896 86 21 December 1907 15 May 1950
5054 Neilson & Co 1896 87 21 December 1907 7 October 1947 Destroyed in collision at Fremantle, 31 July 1947
5062 Neilson & Co 1896 95 15 February 1908 28 June 1955 Used after withdrawal as steam cleaner, Midland locomotive depot
5063 Neilson & Co 1896 96 21 March 1908 19 January 1948 For light rail use, as of 24 May 1913
2881 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 196 30 September 1898 3 July 1953
2882 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 197 27 September 1898 13 January 1955
2883 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 198 4 November 1898 28 June 1954
2884 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 199 2 November 1898 25 May 1950 Written off after damage in a collision
2885 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 200 20 October 1898 28 September 1960 Stowed 14 January 1932 to 15 November 1938
2886 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 201 27 October 1898 28 September 1960 Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum[5]
2887 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 202 7 December 1898 14 November 1946
2888 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 203 15 December 1898 13 January 1955
2889 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 204 28 January 1899 17 April 1950
2890 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 205 19 January 1899 12 April 1951
2891 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 206 18 January 1899 28 April 1955
2892 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 207 11 April 1899 29 May 1953
607 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 256 31 August 1901 31 December 1941 Stowed November 1933; boiler removed 7 February 1934
608 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 257 6 September 1901 4 September 1947
609 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 258 12 October 1901 4 November 1847
610 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 259 10 October 1901 2 September 1953
611 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 260 12 October 1901 15 May 1950
612 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 261 2 November 1901 17 September 1951
613 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 262 6 November 1901 31 December 1940 Stowed 6 October 1931; boiler removed 15 November 1933
614 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 263 7 November 1901 28 June 1955 Converted to Ns 3 March 1922, and back to N 22 August 1933

Namesake

The N class designation was reused in the 1970s when the N class diesel locomotives entered service.

See also

References

Notes
  1. 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. Finlayson, Don (1986). Steam Around Perth. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society WA Division. p. 50. ISBN 0959969047.
  3. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 126. ISBN 086417778X.
  4. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 223–224. ISBN 9781921719011.
  5. N Class Suburban Tank Locomotive Rail Heritage WA
  6. Gunzburg 1984, p. 57.

Cited works
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

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