The WAGR Dm class was a class of

4-6-4T Under the Whyte notation for the classification of locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels and four trailing wheels. In France where the type was first used, it is known as the ...

tank locomotive A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of a more traditional tender. Most tank engines also have bunkers (or fuel tanks) to hold fuel; in a tender-tank locom ...

operated 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) between 1945 and 1971.

Background

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

was a major setback for Western Australia's railway system. The need to move large numbers of troops and material had taken its toll on the ability of the railways to continue the construction of much needed motive power. During the war years only 13 new locomotives were built, three S class and 10

Australian Standard Garratt The Australian Standard Garratt (ASG) was a Garratt steam locomotive designed in Australia during World War II, and used on narrow gauge railway systems in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. History With the outbreak ...

s. By 1944, approximately a quarter of the WAGR's locomotive fleet was out of action pending maintenance. Much of it was over forty years old.

History

The Dm class was based on the earlier D class but differed significantly in the addition of large boiler-length side tanks, and was built by converting older E class tender locomotives. They were built to haul suburban passenger services in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

. They were also used as

bank engine A bank engine (United Kingdom/Australia) (colloquially a banker), banking engine, helper engine or pusher engine (North America) is a railway locomotive that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power or traction to climb a gradi ...

s on the steeply graded

Midland Junction Midland is a suburb in the Perth metropolitan region, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Gr ...

to Chidlow section of the Eastern Railway. The first entered service on 29 March 1945. The first was withdrawn in 1968, with the remainder in 1970/71 following the entry into service of the

ADK/ADB class diesel multiple unit The ADK class are a class of diesel multiple units that were previously operated by Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) in Perth, and later Transdev Auckland on Auckland's suburban rail network, and are currently operated by MetroBus i ...

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the Dm class were as follows:

References

Notes

Cited works

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External links

{{WAGR Locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1945 Dm WAGR class 3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia 4-6-4T locomotives Passenger locomotives