The WAGR AI class was a petrol-driven

railmotor Railmotor is a term used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for a railway lightweight railcar, usually consisting of a railway carriage with a steam traction unit, or a diesel or petrol engine, integrated into it. Steam railcars Overview In th ...

railcar A railcar (not to be confused with a railway car) is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach (carriage, car), with a drive ...

operated between 1935 and 1949 by the

Western Australian Government Railways Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the operator of railway services in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsi ...

(WAGR). Officially designated as a petrol coach, it was built at the

Midland Railway Workshops The Midland Railway Workshops in Midland, Western Australia, were the main workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) for over 80 years. History The first railway workshops in Western Australia were located at Fremantle an ...

in 1935.

Chassis and powertrain

The railcar was based on a

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

K 32 truck chassis purchased from Winterbottom Motor Co in Perth, Western Australia. It had a four-wheeled bogie at the front end, and a

drive axle An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearing ...

at the rear. Powered by a 25 hp 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine, it was equipped with a four speed bidirectional gearbox, and could reach speeds of up to in each direction. Its fuel capacity was .

Payload

The railcar's maximum payload was eight passengers and of freight.

Service history

The WAGR built the railcar specifically to provide a service on the very lightly trafficked Port Hedland–Marble Bar railway in the Pilbara. Upon completion, it was shipped to Port Hedland aboard the MV ''Koolinda''. It was issued to traffic in October 1935, as WAGR fleet number 432. In 1937, the WAGR placed its railcars into classes, and no. 432 was classified as the AI class. It remained in service through World War II, but was sold to the State Saw Mills in 1949. Its ultimate fate is not known

Chassis and powertrain

Payload

Service history

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links