Es 308

The Railway Museum, Bassendean

 

Es 308 in unlined black livery displayed at The Railway Museum, Bassendean on 9 May 2002.

The tall sand dome is a rather quaint and antique feature of this class.

Builder

The Vulcan Foundry Limited,

Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire

Builder’s Number & Year

1846 of 1902

Wheel Arrangement

4-6-2

 

Es 308 represents one of the world's earliest steam locomotives of the Pacific 4-6-2 wheel arrangement and a forerunner of several Pacific types that graced WAGR rails over the decades. The Pacific wheel arrangement features a trailing truck supporting the weight of the firebox, facilitating a larger grate for higher steaming rates. By spreading the locomotive’s weight more effectively, the Pacific wheel arrangement could also be useful for routes unable to support a high axle-load. While the initial 13 New Zealand Railways’ Q-Class locomotives ordered from Baldwin in 1901 are often quoted as the world’s first true Pacific type, the innovative Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) made a significant investment in Pacifics around the same time with an order in 1900 for 45 locomotives from Nasmyth Wilson & Co (15) and Vulcan Foundry (30). These engines were identified as the E-class and were effectively a passenger version of the 4-8-0 F-class goods design. Given that the UK built locos would not arrive in the timeframe required by urgent traffic demands, in December 1900 the WAGR also ordered 20 Pacific locomotives from the famous Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia (noted for their speedy delivery); these units featured the Vauclain compound system applied to many Baldwin locos of the period and were classified ‘Ec’ (presumably ‘c’ denoting ‘compound’). The Baldwin locomotives entered service from 1901 while the E-class arrived from 1902. (A subsequent further example of WAGR locomotive innovation was the world’s first significant order for Beyer Garratt locomotives, the M-class of 1912.)

Despite teething troubles, the E class settled into top link passenger work and was expanded with a further 20 units ordered from the North British Locomotive Co in 1911. Initially supplied with saturated steam boilers, almost all E-class were rebuilt with superheaters from 1924 and reclassified ‘Es’. The E-class remained the main express passenger locomotive until superseded by the P-class from 1924 and the later Pr-class from 1938. In 1945, eight E-class locomotives were withdrawn and provided parts for 8 Dm-class 4-6-4T suburban tank locomotives constructed at Midland Workshops.

Interestingly, the compound Baldwin Ec class received extensive renewal in the mid-1920s, emerging with simple expansion cylinders and new boilers as the L-class for use on the long lines with 45 lb rails to remote destinations such as Meekatharra. The WAGR had also ordered a dozen 4-6-0 locomotives from Baldwin in 1901; these C-class locomotives were converted to Pacifics from 1908 thus further confirming the WAGR’s satisfaction with the 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.

Preserved loco Es 308 entered service on 23 February 1903 and received superheating in May 1925. While most were withdrawn in the 1950’s, Es 308 was among the final few that lasted to 1963, finally being withdrawn on 7 October 1963. It was selected to represent the class in preservation and transferred into the care of the Australian Railway Historical Society (WA Division) in June 1972. Today it can be seen at The Railway Museum, Bassendean.

The Pacific wheel arrangement remained well represented in the WAGR steam fleet across the decades. The locomotive collection at Bassendean hosts several Pacifics, including early Es 308 (built 1903), P 508 (built 1924), Pr 521 (built 1938), U 655 (built 1942) and Pm 701 (built 1949). Alas the pioneering Ec class / L class rebuilds and Cs class did not survive into preservation – including the unfortunate scrapping of the last 4 Cs locos in 1964 following their final years in timber Industry service, and the last L-class apparently lingering on the Midland Workshops scrap line (perhaps incomplete) until 1965.

The webmaster visited The Railway Museum, Bassendean during a 2002 holiday to the Margaret River vineyards. My only opportunity to visit Bassendean did not fall on a museum opening day, but with prior arrangement an AHRS member very kindly agreed to meet me at the gate and guide me around the site. The volunteer explained he been a WAGR driver and driven Es 508 on many occasions, speaking very fondly of the loco and holding the E-class in high regard. I remain very grateful for his generosity in facilitating my visit to Bassendean and I hope to return soon – this time with my digital camera!

I’ve included some photos below of other early WAGR Pacific types, as context for this significant preserved loco Es 308.

A train on the tracks

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Es 308 on the dump at Midland, stencilled “Written Off - not to be cut up or sold”. Photo dated 19 March 1967.

While some historic locos similarly stencilled for preservation were accidentally cut up at Midland, fortunately Es 308 survived!

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7209

(Image reference P11400, original photographer – P. Hopper.)

A group of men standing next to a train

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A Baldwin Ec class loco elaborately adorned to celebrate the opening of the Eastern Goldfields Water Supply Scheme.

The Vauclain compound cylinders are prominent in this view, and the training truck supporting the firebox is also clearly seen.

The loco sports a spark-arresting balloon chimney and a beautiful brass bell sits atop the boiler.

This photo is dated 1903 and loaded with interest!

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=3795

(Image reference P07187, original photographer – Unknown.)

A train on the tracks

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The compound Ec class were rebuilt in the 1920’s with new boilers and simple expansion cylinders to become the L-class.

Here is a wonderful view of rebuilt L 255 in works grey livery.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=15

(Image reference P00016, original photographer – WAGR.)

A train on the tracks

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Cs 270 "BLACK BUTTE" riding the turntable at Banksiadale during an ARHS tour. Photo dated 23 September 1962.

This broadside view gives an excellent perspective of the early Pacific wheel arrangement.

These handsome Baldwin locos were built as 4-6-0’s and converted to 4-6-2’s by addition of a trailing truck to help carry the firebox weight.

The brass bell mounted atop the boiler is a classic American steam locomotive feature!

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=12132

(Image reference T03524, original photographer – R. Taylor.)

References

a

A. Gunzburg 'A history of WAGR steam locomotives',

published by ARHS (Western Australian Division) 1984.

b

Gray. W. K.,

'Guide to Rail Transport Museum, Bassendean, Western Australia',

Australian Railway Historical Society W. A. Division,

First Edition November 1999.

c

Rail Heritage WA website, Exhibits page,

‘E and Es Pacific Type Steam Locomotives’:

https://www.railheritagewa.org.au/museum/locos/pages/e_steam.php

retrieved 23 December 2023

d

Wikipedia page for New Zealand Railways Q-class Pacifics:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_Q_class_(1901)

retrieved 18 December 2023

Page updated: 24 December 2023

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