WAGR K class

Not to be confused with WAGR K class (1891) or WAGR K class (diesel).

The K-class was a class of 2-8-4T steam locomotives of the Western Australian Government Railways

WAGR K class
K class with a Goldfields Water Supply Scheme pipe train, ca. 1902
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Neilson & Co Serial number 4599-4606, 5040-5045, 5197-5206 Total produced 24
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-4T Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2.75 long tons 0 cwt (6,200 lb or 2.8 t) Water cap. 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal) Boiler pressure As built: 120 lbf/in2 (0.83 MPa) Reboilered: 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 16.7 sq ft (1.55 m2) Cylinder size 17 in × 21 in (432 mm × 533 mm)
Performance figures Power output As built: 15,332 lbf (68.20 kN) Reboilered: 20,443 lbf (90.93 kN) Factor of adh. 3.8
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Numbers K34-K41, K101-K106, K186-K195 First run 1893 Disposition All scrapped

History

Between October 1893 and August 1898, the WAGR took delivery of 24 K class locomotives from Neilson & Co. They entered service on the Eastern Railway between Midland Junction and Northam. In 1902, they were displaced from this work by the F class.^[1] They then mainly operated freight services on the Collie line and within Perth, although they did operate Royal Perth Show and raceday special passenger services.^[2]

In 1915, two were repowered with superheated boilers. A further three followed, but all were converted back by 1937. Further reboilerings increased tractive effort by over 5,100 lbf (22.69 kN).^[2]

Six examples originally intended for the WAGR were purchased by the British Government and sent to South Africa to ease a shortage encountered by the Imperial Military Railways resulting from the Boer War, where they became the C class.

Class lists

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the K class were as follows:^[1]

First and second batches, built by Neilson & Co, 1893 and 1896: Builder's number Year built Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 4599 1893 34 24 October 1893 22 March 1961 Converted to Ks, 23 March 1929, and back to K, 1 April 1937 4601 1893 35 25 October 1893 12 April 1951 4600 1893 36 9 December 1893 25 October 1949 4602 1893 37 10 November 1893 6 September 1962 4603 1893 38 28 February 1894 1 June 1927 4604 1893 39 7 March 1894 29 May 1953 Converted to Ks, 12 February 1916, and back to K, 3 October 1925 4605 1893 40 30 March 1894 1 August 1963 Stowed at Fremantle, 2 August 1961 4606 1893 41 16 April 1894 1 June 1927 5040 1896 101 17 March 1897 24 August 1953 Converted to Ks, 20 November 1915, and back to K, 22 December 1928 5041 1896 102 20 March 1897 28 June 1955 5042 1896 103 23 March 1897 15 October 1962 5043 1896 104 30 March 1897 7 February 1928 Converted to Ks, 8 April 1916; scrapped as Ks 5044 1896 105 26 March 1897 23 November 1962 5045 1896 106 31 March 1897 29 November 1957

Third batch, built by Neilson, Reid & Co, 1898: Builder's number Year built Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 5197 1898 186 21 May 1898 30 July 1953 5198 1898 187 26 May 1898 1 June 1927 5199 1898 188 31 May 1898 1 June 1927 7 March 1928 15 May 1962 Returned to service after first withdrawal 5200 1898 189 5 June 1898 30 June 1926 5201 1898 190 10 June 1898 7 December 1964 5202 1898 191 4 August 1898 30 June 1926 5203 1898 192 4 August 1898 1 June 1927 5204 1898 193 12 August 1898 30 April 1954 5205 1898 194 4 August 1898 13 January 1955 Converted to Ks, 25 December 1915, and back to K, 15 June 1929 5206 1898 195 23 July 1898 15 October 1962 Converted to Ks, 25 December 1915, and back to K, 25 June 1927

Namesakes

The "K" designation was previously used by the K class of 1891, which in turn were reclassified as the L class. It was reused in the 1960s when the K class diesel locomotives entered service.

See also

• Trains portal
• Western Australia portal

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