WAGR V class

The WAGR V class was the last class of steam locomotive to enter service with the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). The class was part of the post war regeneration plan for the WAGR, intended for the heavy coal traffic between the Collie coal fields and Perth.

Engineering background

File:WAGR 1220 (5359397445).jpg

V1220 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in April 2006

Twenty-four locomotives were ordered in 1951 from Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester. Capacity issues saw construction of the locomotives subcontracted to Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn's Darlington works although still issued with Beyer Peacock builders numbers. The locomotives entered service between April 1955 and November 1956.

The locomotive was of a modern design with a high superheat, a large combustion chamber and a thermic syphon in the firebox. Roller bearings were used on all the locomotive and tender wheels. When introduced the V class was the largest rigid wheelbase locomotive on the WAGR system, exceeded only by the Australian Standard Garratt. The class was designed to have as many parts as possible interchangeable with the W class.

Operational history

The rated load capacity was 1,320 tons between Brunswick Junction and Armadale, compared to 1,135 tons for the S class and 850 tons for the Fs class. By all accounts the V class were a reliable and free-steaming locomotive. The V class locomotives entered service in 1955 and initially worked heavy coal trains from the Collie area. Later they were used on equally heavy freight trains, particularly over the Great Southern line from York to Albany. Most were condemned in June 1971, with the remainder following in August 1972.Template:Sfn On 25 June 1972. V1220 hauled the final WAGR steam hauled service, the Farewell to Steam special from Brunswick Junction to Collie.

Preservation

Four of the class have survived. Three are owned by preservation societies, whilst the fourth, V1213, is owned by the private rail operator Pemberton Tramway Company who provided Driver Experience courses, in addition to hauling some timber on its railway. The haulage of timber ceased in 2005.

Various records suggest that the V Class were considered for preservation by the South Australian Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society.

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the V class were as follows:Template:Sfn

Builder's number Works number Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 7770 7726 1201 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7771 7727 1202 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7772 7728 1203 Template:Dts Template:Dts Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, March 1968 7773 7729 1204 Template:Dts Template:Dts Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, May 1968 7774 7730 1205 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7775 7732 1206 Template:Dts Template:Dts Damaged in collision at Mundijong, 20 April 1969; repaired by 9 July 1969 7776 7733 1207 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7777 7734 1208 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7778 7735 1209 Template:Dts Template:Dts Preserved at Bellarine Railway, Victoria. Recommissioned 1991, named Spirit of Alcoa and used for occasional passenger services, currently stored 7779 7731 1210 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7780 7736 1211 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7781 7737 1212 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7782 7738 1213 Template:Dts Template:Dts To Hotham Valley Railway (HVR) 8 April 1981, sold to Willis Engineering. Recommissioned on a narrow gauge freight, 27 May 1992 and used for occasional passenger services for both Pemberton Tramway Company and HVR. 7783 7739 1214 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7784 7740 1215 Template:Dts Template:Dts Preserved at Collie 7785 7741 1216 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7786 7742 1217 Template:Dts Template:Dts Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, early 1967 to 5 March 1968 7787 7743 1218 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7788 7744 1219 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7789 7745 1220 Template:Dts Template:Dts Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum 7790 7746 1221 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7791 7747 1222 Template:Dts Template:Dts 7792 7748 1223 Template:Dts Template:Dts Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, 1967–1968 7793 7749 1224 Template:Dts Template:Dts

See also

• Rail transport in Western Australia
• List of Western Australian locomotive classes

References

Bibliography

• Template:Durrant-AustralianSteam
• Template:Gunzburg-WAGR Locomotives
• Template:Gunzburg-History WAGR Steam