WAGR O class

The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) O Class was a class consisting of fifty-six 2-8-0 steam locomotives which were introduced by the WAGR between 1896 and 1912. Despite them being tender locomotives, they also featured short boiler side tanks for additional water storage. A useful feature for the long distances required by operation on Western Australia's country lines.

WAGR O class
O218 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Dübs & Co Neilson & Co Midland Railway Workshops Build date 1896-1912 Total produced 56
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 3 ft 0 in (914 mm) Length 47 ft 4 in (14.43 m) Total weight 62 long tons 17 cwt (140,800 lb or 63.9 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 2,000 imp gal (9,100 L; 2,400 US gal) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinder size 15.5 in × 21 in (394 mm × 533 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,221 lbf (76.60 kN)
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Numbers O74-O100, O208-O226, Oa24, Oa171-173, Oa175-179, Oa219 Preserved O218 Disposition 1 preserved, 55 scrapped

History

Between 1896 and 1898, the WAGR took delivery of 36 O class locomotives from Neilson & Co with a further 10 built by Dübs & Co. They initially operated services on the Eastern Railway and on the South Western Railway to Collie before being superseded by the Ec and K classes and moving to branch line duties. In 1907/08, 10 O class were rebuilt as N Class suburban tank engines.^[1][2][3]

Between 1909 and 1912, Midland Railway Workshops built a further 10 as the Oa class. The last examples of the O class were withdrawn from service in 1962.^[1][2][3]

O218 has been preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum.^[1][4] In April 2015, it moved to the Walkaway Station Museum on a five-year loan.^[5]