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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.

WAGR V class
V1213 at Pemberton station in December 2011
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns as subcontractor to Beyer, Peacock & Co Serial number Beyer, Peacock & Co 7726–7749 Build date 1955 Total produced 24
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1′D1′ h2 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Leading dia. 21.5 in (55 cm) Driver dia. 51 in (130 cm) Trailing dia. 21.5 in (55 cm) Wheelbase 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m) Length 69 ft 8 in (21.23 m) Width 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) Height 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) Axle load 14 long tons 5 cwt (31,900 lb or 14.5 t) Adhesive weight 14 long tons 5 cwt (31,900 lb or 14.5 t) Loco weight 80 long tons 14 cwt 2 q Total weight 134 long tons 18 cwt 2 q Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 7 long tons 0 cwt (15,700 lb or 7.1 t) Water cap. 5,390 imp gal (24,500 L; 6,470 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 40 sq ft (3.7 m2) Boiler pressure 215 lbf/in2 (1.48 MPa) Heating surface 1,817 sq ft (168.8 m2)  • Tubes 1,570 sq ft (146 m2)  • Firebox 247 sq ft (22.9 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 492 sq ft (45.7 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 33,633 lbf (149.61 kN) Factor of adh. 3.8
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Numbers V1201–V1224 Delivered 1955–1956 First run 12 April 1955 Withdrawn 14 August 1972 Preserved V1209, V1213, V1215, V1220 Disposition 4 preserved, 20 scrapped

Engineering background

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.[1]

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. It was designed with the intention of being converted to standard gauge, however when the new gauge arrived 10 years later, more powerful diesel locomotives were introduced and the V class saw out their days on the narrow gauge network.[2]

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.[1][3][4][5] On 25 June 1972. V1220 hauled the final WAGR steam hauled service, the Farewell to Steam special from Brunswick Junction to Collie.[6]

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,[7] in addition to hauling some timber on its railway. The haulage of timber ceased in 2005.[5][8]

Various records suggest that the V Class were considered for preservation by the South Australian Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society.[9][10]

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the V class were as follows:[3]

Builder's number Works number Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 7770 7726 1201 12 April 1955 17 June 1971 7771 7727 1202 10 May 1955 17 June 1971 7772 7728 1203 9 June 1955 17 June 1971 Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, March 1968 7773 7729 1204 24 June 1955 17 June 1971 Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, May 1968 7774 7730 1205 8 July 1955 17 June 1971 7775 7732 1206 15 July 1955 17 June 1971 Damaged in collision at Mundijong, 20 April 1969; repaired by 9 July 1969 7776 7733 1207 27 July 1955 17 June 1971 7777 7734 1208 10 October 1955 14 August 1972 7778 7735 1209 4 October 1955 17 June 1971 Preserved at Bellarine Railway, Victoria. Recommissioned 1991, named Spirit of Alcoa[9] and used for occasional passenger services, currently stored[11][12] 7779 7731 1210 19 October 1955 17 June 1971 7780 7736 1211 2 November 1955 17 June 1971 7781 7737 1212 1 December 1955 17 June 1971 7782 7738 1213 20 December 1955 17 June 1971 To Hotham Valley Railway (HVR) 8 April 1981, sold to Willis Engineering. Recommissioned on a narrow gauge freight, 27 May 1992[9] and used for occasional passenger services for both Pemberton Tramway Company and HVR.[8][13] 7783 7739 1214 23 December 1955 17 June 1971 7784 7740 1215 13 February 1956 17 June 1971 Preserved at Collie[14] 7785 7741 1216 20 February 1956 17 June 1971 7786 7742 1217 14 June 1956 17 June 1971 Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, early 1967 to 5 March 1968 7787 7743 1218 28 March 1956 14 August 1972 7788 7744 1219 13 April 1956 14 August 1972 7789 7745 1220 25 June 1956 14 August 1972 Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum[1][15] 7790 7746 1221 13 July 1956 17 June 1971 7791 7747 1222 2 August 1956 17 June 1971 7792 7748 1223 5 October 1956 17 June 1971 Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, 1967–1968 7793 7749 1224 16 November 1956 17 June 1971

See also

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

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Media related to WAGR V class at Wikimedia Commons

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