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The WAGR W class were a class of 4-8-2 "Mountain" type steam locomotive built by WAGR between 1951 and 1972.

History[]

The class was first proposed by Chief Mechanical Engineer Frederick Mills in 1947. However, the death of Mills in 1949 put a hold on the project, with his successor Charles Clarke, taking up the project on his appointment later that year.

Today only 15 were preserved. They form the backbone of the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway and Pichi Richi Railway fleets with each having three operational examples. Until 2006, Hotham Valley Railway's Ws operated services on the Brookfield Rail network, but today they are confined to its own heritage line

Trivia[]

  • The light axle load of the W class along with their relative youth resulted in them being sought after by tourist operators, both in Western Australia and interstate.
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