# WAGR Pm and Pmr classes

The WAGR Pm and Pmr classes were two classes of 4-6-2 tender engine steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1950 and the early 1970s.

## History

With the WAGR suffering from a shortage of locomotives and having a backlog of repairs deferred from World War II, authorisation was granted for the construction of 35 4-6-2 locomotives. Initially it was planned that Midland Railway Workshops build 10 with the balance built externally. However capacity constraints at Midland saw the order for the full 35 placed with the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow.
Nineteen were built as the Pm class with plain bearings on the coupled axles and roller bearings on the carrying axles. The other sixteen were built as the Pmr class with roller bearings on all axles. One Pm was later converted to a Pmr at Midland Railway Workshops.
All entered service in 1950. Although intended to operate passenger services, their independently sprung driving wheels gave a rough ride meaning they could not maintain schedules, hence they were quickly relegated to fast freight trains on the Eastern Goldfields and Great Southern lines and associated branches. Later they were concentrated on the Great Southern and South Western lines. All were withdrawn between 1970 and 1972.

## Classes list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the Pm and Pmr classes were as follows:
| Builder's number | Class | Road number | In service | Withdrawn | Notes |
| 26545 | Pm | 701 | 4 January 1950 | 17 June 1971 | Preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum |
| 26546 | Pm | 702 | 7 February 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26547 | Pm | 703 | 16 February 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26548 | Pm | 704 | 23 February 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26549 | Pm | 705 | 2 March 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26550 | Pm | 706 | 7 March 1950 | 17 June 1971 | Preserved by Narrogin Apex Club / Hotham Valley Railway |
| 26551 | Pm | 707 | 15 March 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26552 | Pm | 708 | 19 April 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26553 | Pm | 709 | 24 April 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26554 | Pm | 710 | 27 July 1950 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 26555 | Pm | 711 | 23 June 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26556 | Pm | 712 | 15 September 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26557 | Pm | 713 | 28 September 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26558 | Pm | 714 | 9 October 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26559 | Pmr | 715 | 15 November 1950 | 14 August 1972 | Built as Pmr class |
| 26560 | Pm | 716 | 26 September 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26561 | Pm | 717 | 16 August 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26562 | Pm | 718 | 10 May 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26563 | Pm | 719 | 9 May 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26564 | Pmr | 720 | 29 June 1950 | 14 August 1972 | Preserved at Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, named Keith Smith previously operational |
| 26565 | Pmr | 721 | 24 July 1950 | 14 August 1972 | Preserved at Northam railway station |
| 26566 | Pmr | 722 | 20 June 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26567 | Pmr | 723 | 11 July 1950 | 14 August 1972 | Fitted with Pr class dome cover, December 1967 |
| 26568 | Pmr | 724 | 29 June 1950 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 26569 | Pmr | 725 | 5 July 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26921 | Pmr | 726 | 5 July 1950 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 26922 | Pmr | 727 | 8 July 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26923 | Pmr | 728 | 19 July 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26924 | Pmr | 729 | 27 July 1950 | 10 September 1970 | Preserved at Coolgardie station |
| 26925 | Pmr | 730 | 4 August 1950 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 26926 | Pmr | 731 | 8 August 1950 | 10 September 1970 | |
| 26927 | Pmr | 732 | 18 August 1950 | 17 June 1971 | |
| 26928 | Pmr | 733 | 6 September 1950 | 10 September 1970 | Built as Pm, converted to Pmr 14 October 1955 |
| 26929 | Pmr | 734 | 6 September 1950 | 14 August 1972 | |
| 26930 | Pmr | 735 | 31 August 1950 | 14 August 1972 | Sold to TVW displayed at Bennett Brook Railway 1984-87, resold to Hotham Valley Railway, stored at Meelon |