WAGR B class

Not to be confused with WAGR B class (diesel).

The WAGR B class was a class of 4-6-0T tank locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1884 and 1959.

WAGR B class
B8 in original condition
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Kitson & Co (8) Dübs & Co (3) Serial number 1st batch: 2591-2592 2nd batch: 2153, 2185, 2186 3rd batch: 3780-3785 Build date 1884-86, 1898 Total produced 11
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0T Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 1st & 2nd batches: 600 imp gal (2,700 L; 720 US gal) 3rd batch: 1,000 imp gal (4,500 L; 1,200 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 1st & 2nd batches: 10.3 sq ft (0.96 m2) 3rd batch: 11.7 sq ft (1.09 m2) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Performance figures Tractive effort 14,239 lbf (63.34 kN)
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Numbers B8-B9, B12-B14, B180-B185 Disposition all scrapped

History

The first two were ordered from Kitson & Co, Leeds in 1884 to work the steeply graded Eastern Railway from Guildford to Chidlow. A further three were built by Dübs & Co, Glasgow in 1885/86 and a further six by Kitson & Co in 1898. The last batch were built with larger water tanks, with the earlier five having larger tanks retrofitted. In 1903, they were displaced by the K class and relegated to shunting duties.

Class list

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

Builder's number Builder Year built Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 2591 Kitson & Co 1884 8 1 June 1884 31 March 1924 2592 Kitson & Co 1884 9 10 May 1884 30 September 1940 Stowed 20 April 1931 2153 Dübs & Co 1885 12 10 January 1886 31 January 1924 2185 Dübs & Co 1886 13 12 June 1886 early 1897 Sold to WN Hedges early 1897 by June 1898 25 May 1959 Repurchased by WAGR by June 1898. 2186 Dübs & Co 1886 14 6 July 1886 13 January 1955 3780 Kitson & Co 1898 180 20 December 1898 5 May 1955 3781 Kitson & Co 1898 181 23 February 1899 17 April 1956 3782 Kitson & Co 1898 182 2 February 1899 8 October 1956 3783 Kitson & Co 1898 183 2 February 1899 13 January 1955 3784 Kitson & Co 1898 184 21 February 1899 13 January 1955 3785 Kitson & Co 1898 185 16 February 1899 17 January 1958

Namesake

The B class designation was reused in the 1960s when the B class diesel locomotives entered service.

See also

• Rail transport in Western Australia
• List of Western Australian locomotive classes

References

Cited works

• Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

External links

Media related to WAGR B class at Wikimedia Commons