WAGR Pm and Pmr classes

The WAGR Pm and Pmr classes were two classes of 4-6-2 tender engine steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1950 and the early 1970s.

History With the WAGR suffering from a shortage of locomotives and having a backlog of repairs deferred from World War II, authorisation was granted for the construction of 35 4-6-2 locomotives. Initially it was planned that Midland Railway Workshops build 10 with the balance built externally. However capacity constraints at Midland saw the order for the full 35 placed with the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow.Pm Class Steam Locomotive Rail Heritage WA

Nineteen were built as the Pm class with plain bearings on the coupled axles and roller bearings on the carrying axles. The other sixteen were built as the Pmr class with roller bearings on all axles. One Pm was later converted to a Pmr at Midland Railway Workshops.

All entered service in 1950. Although intended to operate passenger services, their independently sprung driving wheels gave a rough ride meaning they could not maintain schedules, hence they were quickly relegated to fast freight trains on the Eastern Goldfields and Great Southern lines and associated branches. Later they were concentrated on the Great Southern and South Western lines. All were withdrawn between 1970 and 1972.

Classes list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the Pm and Pmr classes were as follows:

Builder'snumberClassRoadnumberIn serviceWithdrawnNotes26545Pm701Preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum26546Pm70226547Pm70326548Pm70426549Pm70526550Pm706Preserved by Narrogin Apex Club / Hotham Valley RailwayPm706 Hotham Valley Railway26551Pm70726552Pm70826553Pm70926554Pm71026555Pm71126556Pm71226557Pm71326558Pm71426559Pmr715Built as Pmr class26560Pm71626561Pm71726562Pm71826563Pm71926564Pmr720Preserved at Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, named Keith Smith previously operationalW901 Australian Steam26565Pmr721Preserved at Northam railway stationOld Northam Railway Station Visit Northam26566Pmr72226567Pmr723Fitted with Pr class dome cover, December 196726568Pmr72426569Pmr72526921Pmr72626922Pmr72726923Pmr72826924Pmr729Preserved at Coolgardie station26925Pmr73026926Pmr73126927Pmr73226928Pmr733Built as Pm, converted to Pmr 14 October 195526929Pmr73426930Pmr735Sold to TVW displayed at Bennett Brook Railway 1984-87, resold to Hotham Valley Railway, stored at MeelonNovember 2013 Hotham Valley Railway

WAGR Pm and Pmr classes

Bron en licentie