| Weight | 84t 14cwt Superheated 85t 14cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 3ft 6½in |
| Boiler Pressure | 180psi Superheated – 175lbf |
| Cylinders | Outside – 17in x 23in Superheated – 18in x 23in |
| Tractive Effort | 21,115lbf Superheated – 26,082lbf |
57 class F locomotives were built by Dübs and Company and the North British Locomotive Company who were both based in Glasgow. The Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) orders were built in three batches – 15 in 1902, 12 in 1912 and 30 in 1913. The first batch were by Dübs & Co and the second two by the North British Locomotive Company.
The heavy goods locomotives were designed by T F Rotheram who was the Chief Mechanical Engineer at the WAGR from 1900 until 1903. It was an enlarged version of an earlier one of his designs – the B class.
The last two engines of the second batch, 366 and 367, were delivered with Schmidt superheaters, and were the first superheated locomotives to enter service in Western Australia. They were designated as class Fs locomotives and were found to have greatly improved steaming and fuel economy..
Between 1924 and 1948 all of the F class locomotives, apart from four, were retrofitted with superheaters, and reclassified as Fs class engines. Towards the end of their working lives, some had their superheaters removed as an economy measure.
This locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1913 and entered service as F 398. It was fitted with a superheater in 1947 and reclassified as an Fs engine.
It was withdrawn from service as Fs 452 in June 1971 and sold to the Collie Tourist Board in mArch 1974.
The locomotive is on display at the Coalfields Museum at Collie.
One other F class locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company has been preserved.
- Fs 460 – Works number 20096
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