# WAGR V class

The WAGR V class was the last class of steam locomotive to enter service with the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). The class was part of the post war regeneration plan for the WAGR, intended for the heavy coal traffic between the Collie coal fields and Perth.

## Engineering background

Twenty-four locomotives were ordered in 1951 from Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester. Capacity issues saw construction of the locomotives subcontracted to Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn's Darlington works although still issued with Beyer Peacock builders numbers. The locomotives entered service between April 1955 and November 1956.
The locomotive was of a modern design with a high superheat, a large combustion chamber and a thermic syphon in the firebox. Roller bearings were used on all the locomotive and tender wheels. When introduced the V class was the largest rigid wheelbase locomotive on the WAGR system, exceeded only by the Australian Standard Garratt. The class was designed to have as many parts as possible interchangeable with the W class.

## Operational history

The rated load capacity was 1,320 tons between Brunswick Junction and Armadale, compared to 1,135 tons for the S class and 850 tons for the Fs class. By all accounts the V class were a reliable and free-steaming locomotive. The V class locomotives entered service in 1955 and initially worked heavy coal trains from the Collie area. Later they were used on equally heavy freight trains, particularly over the Great Southern line from York to Albany. Most were condemned in June 1971, with the remainder following in August 1972. On 25 June 1972. V1220 hauled the final WAGR steam hauled service, the Farewell to Steam special from Brunswick Junction to Collie.

## Preservation

Four of the class have survived. Three are owned by preservation societies, whilst the fourth, V1213, is owned by the private rail operator Pemberton Tramway Company who provided Driver Experience courses, in addition to hauling some timber on its railway. The haulage of timber ceased in 2005.
Various records suggest that the V Class were considered for preservation by the South Australian Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society.

## Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the V class were as follows:
| Builder's number | Works number | Road number | In service | Withdrawn | Notes |
| 7770 | 7726 | 1201 | 12 April 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7771 | 7727 | 1202 | 10 May 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7772 | 7728 | 1203 | 9 June 1955 | 17 June 1971 | Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, March 1968 |
| 7773 | 7729 | 1204 | 24 June 1955 | 17 June 1971 | Fitted with Nathan DV3 mechanical lubricator, May 1968 |
| 7774 | 7730 | 1205 | 8 July 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7775 | 7732 | 1206 | 15 July 1955 | 17 June 1971 | Damaged in collision at Mundijong, 20 April 1969; repaired by 9 July 1969 |
| 7776 | 7733 | 1207 | 27 July 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7777 | 7734 | 1208 | 10 October 1955 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 7778 | 7735 | 1209 | 4 October 1955 | 17 June 1971 | Preserved at Bellarine Railway, Victoria. Recommissioned 1991, named Spirit of Alcoa and used for occasional passenger services, currently stored |
| 7779 | 7731 | 1210 | 19 October 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7780 | 7736 | 1211 | 2 November 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7781 | 7737 | 1212 | 1 December 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7782 | 7738 | 1213 | 20 December 1955 | 17 June 1971 | To Hotham Valley Railway (HVR) 8 April 1981, sold to Willis Engineering. Recommissioned on a narrow gauge freight, 27 May 1992 and used for occasional passenger services for both Pemberton Tramway Company and HVR. |
| 7783 | 7739 | 1214 | 23 December 1955 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7784 | 7740 | 1215 | 13 February 1956 | 17 June 1971 | Preserved at Collie |
| 7785 | 7741 | 1216 | 20 February 1956 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7786 | 7742 | 1217 | 14 June 1956 | 17 June 1971 | Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, early 1967 to 5 March 1968 |
| 7787 | 7743 | 1218 | 28 March 1956 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 7788 | 7744 | 1219 | 13 April 1956 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 7789 | 7745 | 1220 | 25 June 1956 | 14 August 1972 | Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum |
| 7790 | 7746 | 1221 | 13 July 1956 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7791 | 7747 | 1222 | 2 August 1956 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 7792 | 7748 | 1223 | 5 October 1956 | 17 June 1971 | Standard Detroit lubricator fitted, 1967–1968 |
| 7793 | 7749 | 1224 | 16 November 1956 | 17 June 1971 | |