WAGR Pacific Type Locomotives
| Builders Nasmyth, Wilson & Co No 291-305 Vulcan Foundry No 306-335 North British Loco Co No 336-355 |
| coupled wheel diameter 4' 6" |
| total weight 83t 4c |
| tractive effort 17,233lb |
| coal capacity 5 tons |
| water capacity 2200 gallons |
| total number in service 65 |
The E class 4-6-2 locomotives were ordered in 1900 as a passenger locomotive
for use on heavier lines. Their axle loading of 12.6 tons was just on the
limit for 60lb rail.Fifteen locomotives were built by Nasmyth Wilson &
Co while a further thirty locomotives were supplied by the Vulcan Foundry.
Following erection of the locomotives at the Fremantle workshops during 1902
they were introduced into service between June and October 1903. They were
initially placed in service on passenger duties on the Perth to Kalgoorlie
passenger service as well as being allocated to the Kalgoorlie to Leonora
line. The heavier hauling capacity lead to considerable savings in cost compared
to the previous use R and O class locomotives.
Initially the class was plagued by several faults requiring rectification
at Midland. Due to increasing traffic a further twenty locomotives were ordered
from the North British Locomotive Company in 1911 and were placed in service
during January and February 1912.
The E class remained as the principle express passenger locomotive on the
WAGR until the arrival of the P and Pr classes in 1924 and 1938.
The class remained largely unchanged except for the conversion to superheated
boilers. This work commenced in 1924 when an initial thirty two locomotives
were converted. The remainder of the class apart from No 306 and 338
were converted by 1949. The modified locomotives were classified as Es.
The first withdrawals were in 1945. Most of the class was withdrawn during
the 1950's with the final locomotives being withdrawn in 1963.
Es.308 entered service on 23 February, 1903 & was superheated on 23 May,
1925. Ten years later it was rebuilt with a new frame & was one of the
last of the class in service. It was withdrawn from use on 7 October, 1963
after running 1¼ million miles (2 million km), & was stored till
3 June, 1972 when it was placed in the Rail Transport Museum.