WAGR O class

The WAGR O Class was a 2-8-0 steam locomotive introduced by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) 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 on Western Australia's country lines.

WAGR O class
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 cap2,000 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

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& Co. They initially operated services on the Eastern Railway and on the South Western Railway to Collie before being superseded by the Ec and K classes and moving to branch line duties.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 The last examples of the O class were withdrawn from service in 1962.[1][2][3]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. 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. Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society. pp. 52–55. ISBN 0 9599690 3 9.
  3. 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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