This is one of 24 locomotives built by Dübs and Company in Glasgow in 1897 for the Western Australian Government Railway (WAGR). They were designed to haul passenger trains and had 4feet 9inch driving wheels which were the largest of any WAGR locomotive.
The locomotives of the R class were later converted to 4-4-2 locomotives to reduce the axle load when they were redeployed on secondary routes. This locomotive was converted to a 4-4-2T at the Midland Workshops in 1909 after which it was categorised as RA 174
This locomotive was in service with the WAGR until May 1953 by which time it had travelled 726,881 miles.
It was transferred to the Kalgoorie depot in 1907 until its overhaul two years later.
After returning to service in 1909 the locomotive was based at Wagin depot until 1911 after which it was allocated to Perth until 1914. The next three years were spent at Cue before being stored at the Midland Workshop for 23 months. In 1918 until 1921 the locomotive was based at Kalgoorie before going to Midland Junction where it was stored for 28 months. After this it was allocated to Kalgoorie again until 1939 before going to Albany where it remained until 1945.
In July 1945 the locomotive was initially stored at Narrogin but subsequently transferred to Midland Workshops. It was withdrawn from service in September 1947, having travelled 1 128 092 km.
However, it’s retirement was short lived being recalled to service in 1948 and based once again at Albany from 1948 until 1953 when it was withdrawn from service again and placed in store at Narrogin in March 1953 by which time it had covered a total of 1,169,930 km.
In December 1949 it was proposed to be mounted on display outside Perth station but instead it was restored as a 4-4-0 locomotive and placed outside the Railway Institute building at Midland Junction.
In 1972 the locomotive was moved to a plinth at Midland Centrepoint Shopping Centre. It remained there until plans to redevelop the shopping centre resulted in the locomotive being donated to the WA Rail Heritage for display at Bassendean where it arrived in March 2011.
A plaque on the locomotive commemorates the part played by the locomotive in assisting the rescue at Bonnie Vale mine near Coolgardie in 1907. The locomotive hauled a special train from Perth to transport divers and equipment to the mine which had flooded. The train set a record for the journey which lasted for almost 50 years when it achieved an average speed of 43km/h.
The locomotive is on display at the Railway Museum Bassendean, Perth.
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