WAGR N class

Not to be confused with Westrail N class.

The WAGR N class was a class of steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) from 1896 until 1960.

WAGR N class
N201 at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Neilson & Co Robert Stephenson & Co Nasmyth, Wilson & Co Midland Railway Workshops Total produced 42
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-4T Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm) Length 36 ft 3 in (11.05 m) Loco weight 44 long tons 0 cwt (98,600 lb or 44.7 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 1,600 imp gal (7,300 L; 1,900 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 11,036 lbf (49.09 kN)
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways First run September 1896 Preserved N201 Disposition 1 preserved, 41 scrapped

History

In September 1896, five Neilson & Co built N class entered service hauling suburban trains around Perth between Fremantle and Midland Junction and on the Kalgoorlie-Boulder loop. Robert Stephenson & Co built a further twelve in 1898/99 and Nasmyth, Wilson & Co a further fifteen in 1901. In 1907/08 a further ten were added, when the Midland Railway Workshops converted ten O class. With the cessation of suburban services in Kalgoorlie, all were transferred to Perth.^[1][2][3][4]

Most remained in service until replaced by Dm and Dd class locomotives in the 1940s and ADH class diesel multiple units in the 1950s. The last two were withdrawn in September 1960.^[1][4]

N201 has been preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum.^[5]

Class list

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

Builder's number Builder Year built Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 600 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 1 26 June 1901 29 May 1958 601 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 19 2 July 1901 15 June 1940 Stowed 20 April 1940 602 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 20 23 August 1901 30 September 1940 603 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 25 16 August 1901 30 April 1954 604 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 26 21 August 1901 3 July 1953 605 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 27 29 August 1901 2 October 1953 606 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 132 2 September 1901 26 May 1953 4937 Neilson & Co 1896 69 18 September 1896 15 November 1950 4938 Neilson & Co 1896 70 12 September 1896 14 January 1954 4939 Neilson & Co 1896 71 19 September 1896 15 May 1950 4940 Neilson & Co 1896 72 14 September 1896 14 November 1946 4941 Neilson & Co 1896 73 10 October 1896 25 May 1955 4933 Neilson & Co 1896 75 27 June 1908 16 January 1951 4934 Neilson & Co 1896 76 2 May 1908 18 February 1960 4935 Neilson & Co 1896 77 16 May 1908 7 May 1958 4936 Neilson & Co 1896 78 27 June 1908 25 May 1955 5046 Neilson & Co 1896 79 13 June 1908 17 August 1951 5052 Neilson & Co 1896 85 21 December 1907 22 July 1955 5053 Neilson & Co 1896 86 21 December 1907 15 May 1950 5054 Neilson & Co 1896 87 21 December 1907 7 October 1947 Destroyed in collision at Fremantle, 31 July 1947 5062 Neilson & Co 1896 95 15 February 1908 28 June 1955 Used after withdrawal as steam cleaner, Midland locomotive depot 5063 Neilson & Co 1896 96 21 March 1908 19 January 1948 For light rail use, as of 24 May 1913 2881 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 196 30 September 1898 3 July 1953 2882 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 197 27 September 1898 13 January 1955 2883 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 198 4 November 1898 28 June 1954 2884 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 199 2 November 1898 25 May 1950 Written off after damage in a collision 2885 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 200 20 October 1898 28 September 1960 Stowed 14 January 1932 to 15 November 1938 2886 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 201 27 October 1898 28 September 1960 Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum[5] 2887 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 202 7 December 1898 14 November 1946 2888 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 203 15 December 1898 13 January 1955 2889 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 204 28 January 1899 17 April 1950 2890 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 205 19 January 1899 12 April 1951 2891 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 206 18 January 1899 28 April 1955 2892 Robert Stephenson & Co 1898 207 11 April 1899 29 May 1953 607 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 256 31 August 1901 31 December 1941 Stowed November 1933; boiler removed 7 February 1934 608 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 257 6 September 1901 4 September 1947 609 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 258 12 October 1901 4 November 1947 610 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 259 10 October 1901 2 September 1953 611 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 260 12 October 1901 15 May 1950 612 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 261 2 November 1901 17 September 1951 613 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 262 6 November 1901 31 December 1940 Stowed 6 October 1931; boiler removed 15 November 1933 614 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co 1900 263 7 November 1901 28 June 1955 Converted to Ns 3 March 1922, and back to N 22 August 1933

Namesake

The N class designation was reused in the 1970s when the N class diesel locomotives entered service.

See also

• Trains portal
• Western Australia portal

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

References

Notes

1. Whiteford, David; De Bruin, Charles; Watson, Lindsay; Watson, Neville (1983). Western Australian Preserved Locomotives. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. p. 11. ISBN 0-949817-19-8.
2. Finlayson, Don (1986). Steam Around Perth. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society WA Division. p. 50. ISBN 0959969047.
3. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 126. ISBN 086417778X.
4. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 223–224. ISBN 9781921719011.
5. N Class Suburban Tank Locomotive Rail Heritage WA
6. Gunzburg 1984, p. 57.

Cited works

• Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

External links

Media related to WAGR N class at Wikimedia Commons