The WAGR M class was a class of
Garratt-type
articulated
An articulated vehicle is a vehicle which has a permanent or semi-permanent pivot joint in its construction, allowing it to turn more sharply. There are many kinds, from heavy equipment to buses, trams and trains. Steam locomotives were sometim ...
steam locomotives 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 1912 and 1955. A total of 13 of them were built by
Beyer, Peacock & Co,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
in two batches.
History
The first batch of six engines, was built in 1911. This batch, which entered WAGR service in 1912, was only the third Garratt design to be built, and represented a significant step in the development of the type. The second batch, of seven engines, was built in 1913/14, and was designated as the Ms class because its members were
superheated
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into superheated steam or dry steam. Superheated steam is used in steam turbines for electricity generation, steam engines, and in processes such as steam reforming. There are ...
. One of the engines in the first batch was later fitted with a superheater and reclassified as an Ms class engine.
All of the M/Ms class locomotives were used to haul trains on the WAGR's light lines. They were withdrawn from service between 1947 and 1955, and all were scrapped.
Class lists
M class list
The numbers and periods in service of each member of the M class were as follows:
Ms class list
The numbers and periods in service of each member of the Ms class were:
Namesakes
The M class designation was previously used for the
M class locomotives that were withdrawn in 1911. It was reused in the 1970s when the
M class diesel locomotives entered service.
See also
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History of rail transport in Western Australia
Railways in Western Australia were developed in the 19th century both by the Government of Western Australia and a number of private companies. Today passenger rail services are controlled by the Public Transport Authority (a department of the ...
*
List of Western Australian locomotive classes
This is a list of Western Australian locomotive classes, being classes of locomotive that have worked on railways in Western Australia.
The majority of Western Australian steam locomotive classes were operated by the Western Australian Governm ...
References
Notes
Bibliography
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External links
{{WAGR Locomotives, state=collapsed
Beyer, Peacock locomotives
Garratt locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1912
M WAGR class (1912)
2-6-0+0-6-2 locomotives
3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia
Freight locomotives
Scrapped locomotives