| Weight | 103t 18cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 4ft 0in |
| Boiler Pressure | 160psi |
| Tractive Effort | 23,638lbf |
The P class locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) were introduced in 1924.
The 25 locomotives were designed by E S Race based on original plans by the Chief Mechanical Engineer at WAGR Ernest A Evans. They were intended to be employed on express passenger duties on the WAGR main lines and in particular on the Perth to Kalgoorie and Perth to Albany which covered distances in excess of 350km. They proved to be an excellent design and did away with the need for banking engines on steep gradients.
The first batch of 10 were built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1924 and the second batch by the WAGR Midland Railway Workshops between 1927 and 1929. The order with the North British Locomotive Company required the locomotives to be built and supplied within a 33 week period. This was to have the locomotives available for the 1924/1925 wheat harvest so that they could replace the other locomotives and allow them to be employed on wheat trains.
The Midland Railway Workshop engines were identical to the North British locomotives except the tenders which were rebuilt from those of the obsolete R class engines. This order was extended by an additional five locomotives which were delivered in 1929, bringing the total to twenty-five locomotives.
In the late 1930s orders were placed for another 10 P class locomotives to be built at the Midland Railway Workshops. These locomotives featured design improvements and were designated as Pr class locomotives. In all 18 Pr class locomotives were built including 8 converted from class P locomotives.
This locomotive (P 508) was built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1924 and entered service on the WAGR in February 1925 as P 448. It was renumbered P508 in June 1947.
The locomotive was withdrawn from service in July 1968 whilst based at the Narrogin depot.
After a period in store the locomotive was placed in the Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean, Perth.
There is one Pr class locomotive built at the Midland Railway Workshops preserved – Pr 521.
Back to LocomotivesNorth British Locomotive Company 23150Western Australia Government Railways P508 at Bassedean- 1997
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