WAGR U class

The WAGR U class was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1946 and the late 1960s. One was rebuilt as a 4-6-4 tank locomotive.

WAGR U class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderNorth British Locomotive Company
Build date1942
Total produced14
RebuilderMidland Railway Workshops
Rebuild date1957
Number rebuilt1
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • WhyteU: 4-6-2
Ut: 4-6-4
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Length60 ft 5 in (18.42 m)
Total weightU: 107.7 long tons 0 cwt (241,200 lb or 109.4 t)
Ut: 80 long tons 0 cwt (179,200 lb or 81.3 t)
Fuel typeOil
Fuel capacityU: 1,800 imp gal (8,200 L; 2,200 US gal)
Ut: 1,000 imp gal (4,500 L; 1,200 US gal)
Water capU: 4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal)
Ut: 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal)
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Cylinder size18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort22,032 lbf (98.00 kN)
Factor of adh.U:3.8, Ut: 4.2
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
First run30 November 1946
Withdrawn10 September 1970
PreservedU655, Ut664
Disposition2 preserved, 12 scrapped

History
Ut664 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum

In 1942, the North British Locomotive Company built 55 locomotives for the British War Department. They were almost identical to the 220 class of the Sudan Railways. The new locomotives were intended to be available for use on various 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge railways operated by the Sudan, Nigerian, Gold Coast, Belgian Congo, French Ocean Congo and Rhodesian Railways, depending upon the course of the World War II battles in North Africa. Unlike the 220 class, which burned coal, the new locomotives were equipped as oil burners, although they had provision for rapid conversion to coal burning, if necessary.[1]

Of the 55 new locomotives, 35 were sent overseas in 1942 and 1943. The remaining 20 were stored unassembled in England at the Melbourne Military Railway near Derby. In 1946, six of these went to the Nyasaland Railways for use on the Trans-Zambesi Railway, and the other 14 were sent to Western Australia, where they became the WAGR U class entering service between November 1946 and April 1947.[1][2]

Classified as the U class, they operated passenger and freight services between Perth, Albany and Bunbury. Following the delivery of the X class they were relegated to lesser freight services. By 1957, with their running costs being three times greater than that of coal powered locomotives, they were stored. Five were returned to service in 1961 during a coal shortage before being withdrawn again shortly after. Further brief comebacks were made in 1966 and 1967.[2][3][4]

In 1957, U664 was converted to a 4-6-4 tank locomotive at the Midland Railway Workshops to allow it to maintain the faster schedules on Perth suburban services introduced when ADG class railcars were placed in service. Although deemed a success, no more followed due to its high operating costs.[2][4] After being stored, it returned in 1966 to haul ballast trains on the Midland and South Western lines.[5]

Class list

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

Builder's
number		 Road
number		 In service Withdrawn Notes
24854 651 30 November 1946 6 October 1969
24859 652 7 December 1946 6 October 1969
24864 653 14 December 1946 6 October 1969
24862 654 21 December 1946 6 October 1969
24863 655 25 January 1947 10 September 1970 Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum[3]
24867 656 7 February 1947 22 July 1969
24865 657 14 February 1947 6 October 1969
24866 658 14 February 1947 6 October 1969
24861 659 28 February 1947 6 October 1969
24843 660 7 March 1947 6 October 1969
24844 661 14 March 1947 6 October 1969
24860 662 21 March 1947 6 October 1969
24842 663 28 March 1947 6 October 1969
24841 664 4 April 1947 6 November 1956 Converted to Ut class in 1957; preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum[3]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Gunzburg 1984, p. 128.
  2. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 232–233. ISBN 9781921719011.
  3. Whiteford, David; De Bruin, Charles; Watson, Lindsay; Watson, Neville (1983). Western Australian Preserved Locomotives. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. p. 20. ISBN 0 949817 19 8.
  4. U and Ut Class Steam Locomotive Rail Heritage WA
  5. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 172. ISBN 086417778X.
  6. Gunzburg 1984, p. 129.

Bibliography
  • Durrant, A E (1978). Australian Steam. Newton Abbot, Devon, UK; North Pomfret, Vt, USA: David & Charles. pp. 98, 101. ISBN 0715376055.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 16–19, 47. OCLC 219836193.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.
  • Tourret, R (1995). Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War. Abingdon: Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-06-X, Chapter 30.

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