WAGR Q class

Not to be confused with WAGR Q class (1895).

The WAGR Q class was a two-member class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the Public Works Department (PWD) and later Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1928 and 1953.

WAGR Q class
PWD locomotive Nornalup (later Q63), ca 1928
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Length 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m) Total weight 119 long tons 6 cwt (267,200 lb or 121.2 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 5.5 long tons 0 cwt (12,300 lb or 5.6 t) Water cap. 2,050 imp gal (9,300 L; 2,460 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 17 sq ft (1.6 m2) Boiler pressure 165 lbf/in2 (1.14 MPa) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 14,060 lbf (62.54 kN) Factor of adh. 4.2
Career Operators Public Works Department Western Australian Government Railways First run 31 July 1928 Withdrawn 9 October 1953 Disposition both scrapped

History

In November 1927, the PWD's Railway Construction Branch awarded a tender to Andrew Barclay Sons & Co., Kilmarnock for two 4-6-0 locomotives.^[1][2]

Both locomotives entered service with the PWD on 31 July 1928 named Wiluna and Nornalup after contemporary construction projects. On 5 January 1931, responsibility for the Railway Construction Branch of the PWD was transferred to the WAGR, with both included and numbered Q62 and Q63. They were withdrawn on 25 October 1949 and 9 October 1953 respectively and scrapped.^[2][3][4]

Namesakes

The Q class designation was previously used for the Q class locomotives that were withdrawn in 1925. It was reused in the 1990s when the Westrail Q 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. Gunzburg, p. 111.
2. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 110. ISBN 086417778X.
3. Gunzburg, p. 112.
4. Gunzburg, Adrian; Austin, Jeff (2008). Rails Through the Bush. Perth: Rail Heritage WA. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-9803922-2-7.

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 Q class at Wikimedia Commons