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.

WAGR V class
V1213 at Pemberton station in December 2011
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderRobert Stephenson & Hawthorn as subcontractor to Beyer, Peacock & Co
Serial numberBeyer, Peacock & Co 7726–7749
Build date1955
Total produced24
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1′D1′ h2
Gauge3 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)
Wheelbase32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
Length69 ft 8 in (21.23 m)
Width9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Height11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Axle load14 long tons 5 cwt (31,900 lb or 14.5 t)
Adhesive weight14 long tons 5 cwt (31,900 lb or 14.5 t)
Loco weight80t 14c 2q
Total weight134t 18c 2q
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity7 long tons 0 cwt (15,700 lb or 7.1 t)
Water cap5,390 imp gal (24,500 L; 6,470 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		40 sq ft (3.7 m2)
Boiler pressure215 lbf/in2 (1.48 MPa)
Heating surface1,817 sq ft (168.8 m2)
 • Tubes1,570 sq ft (146 m2)
 • Firebox247 sq ft (22.9 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area492 sq ft (45.7 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort33,633 lbf (149.61 kN)
Factor of adh.3.8
Career
OperatorsWestern Australian Government Railways
NumbersV1201–V1224
Delivered1955–1956
First run12 April 1955
Withdrawn14 August 1972
PreservedV1209, V1213, V1215, V1220
Disposition4 preserved, 20 scrapped

Engineering background
V1220 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in April 2006

Twenty-four locomotives were ordered in 1951 from Beyer, Peacock & Co, 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

References

Notes
  1. V Class Steam Locomotive Rail Heritage WA
  2. Clark, Peter (2012). The Australian Locomotive Guide. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 9781922013682.
  3. Gunzburg 1984, p. 140.
  4. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 171. ISBN 086417778X.
  5. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 281. ISBN 9781921719011.
  6. Whiteford, David; De Bruin, Charles; Watson, Lindsay; Watson, Neville (1983). Western Australian Preserved Locomotives. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. p. 17. ISBN 0 949817 19 8.
  7. Driver Experience Page Pemberton Tramway Co
  8. The Mighty V Pemberton Tramway Company
  9. "The V Class" The Partyline issue 56 Winter 1994 (Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society) ISSN 1322-2473
  10. "The Steamtown Locomotives" Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Number 1, February 1979
  11. Steam Locomotives Archived 2017-05-25 at the Wayback Machine Bellarine Peninsula Railway
  12. V1209 Australian Steam
  13. V1213 Australian Steam
  14. V1215 Australian Steam
  15. V1220 Australian Steam

Bibliography
  • Durrant, A E (1978). Australian Steam. Newton Abbot, Devon, UK; North Pomfret, Vt, USA: David & Charles. pp. 99, 101. ISBN 0715376055.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 26–27, 47. OCLC 219836193.
  • Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

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