Power type Steam Total produced 56 Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | Build date 1896-1912 Configuration 2-8-0 | |
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Builder Dübs & Co
Neilson & Co
Midland Railway Workshops | ||
The WAGR O Class was a 2-8-0 steam locomotive introduced by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) in 1896. They were tender locomotives, but also featured short boiler side tanks for additional water storage useful in the long distance required by operation on Western Australia's country lines.
History
Between 1896 and 1898, the WAGR took delivery of 36 O class locomotives from Neilson & Co with a further 10 built by Dübs & Co. They initially operated services on the Eastern Railway and on the South Western Railway to Collie before being superseded by the Ec and K classes and moving to branch line duties. In 1907/08, 10 O class were rebuilt as N Class suburban tank engines.
Between 1909 and 1912, Midland Railway Workshops built a further 10 as the Oa class. The last examples of the O class were withdrawn from service in 1962.
O218 has been preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum. In April 2015, it moved to the Walkaway Station Museum on a five year loan.