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G 233 represents one of the more
significant locomotive types used by the Western Australian Government
Railways (WAGR). The G-class were a versatile locomotive suitable for many
roles, based on a Beyer-Peacock & Co design evolved from the earlier
A-class 2-6-0 and becoming a de-facto standard for Australian narrow-gauge
operators, with similar locos operated by the South Australian Railways
(Y-class), Tasmanian Government Railways (C-class) and numerous private
operators including the Silverton Tramway, NSW (Y-class), the Chillagoe Mining
& Railway Co, Queensland and various timber concerns in several states.
The G-class appeared when the WAGR rail network was expanding rapidly, and
indeed the first locomotive was ex-contactor’s locomotive G 17 constructed in
1885 and which came into WAGR stock in 1889, while newly-built WAGR units
followed from 1893 onwards. Some newly delivered G-class were quickly sold
to contractors to assist in rail construction activities (including
preserved G 111 / G 71), while others
were ordered new by railway contractors and later came into WAGR ownership.
The initial seven G-class locos came from Beyer Peacock & Co,
Manchester but later examples came from Scottish builders Neilson & Co
and Dubs & Co, while many others were supplied by South Australian
manufacturer James Martin & Co. (It would be interesting to know what
commercial negotiations and license agreement with Beyer Peacock & Co
applied to machines built by these other companies.)
The initial WAGR G-class locos had a 2-6-0
wheel arrangement, like the earlier A-class, but were found to have some
issues in passenger work. The 4-6-0 wheel arrangement achieved worldwide
success in passenger duties, with the leading 4-wheel bogie helping to
guide the locomotive though curves and point work at the higher speeds
required in passenger traffic, and accordingly later G-class members were
built as 4-6-0 versions of the classic Beyer Peacock & Co design. I
have come across various accounts of the total number of G-class members –
some confusion is perhaps to be expected given the many acquisitions and
sales over the years – but the authorative work by Adrian Gunzburg ‘A
History of WAGR Steam Locomotives’ provides an account of each WAGR example,
totalling 73 locos comprising 49 of 2-6-0 version and 24 of the 4-6-0
version. Preserved loco G 233 is one of the earlier 2-6-0 version, being
introduced to traffic on 13 December 1898.
The G-class were inevitably superseded in
mixed-traffic duties by more modern and powerful steam locomotive types as
the decades passed, but some but found niche roles on branch lines and
jetty shunting. Following WAGR retirement, many were sold to private timber
and firewood supply operations. The versatility and ruggedness of the
design was again proven when several WAGR examples were sent to the North
Australia Railway at Darwin during World War 2, some later returning to
Western Australia.
G 223 was one of the final few G-class in
revenue service when serving as a jetty shunter at Bunbury by 1968.
Together with 4-6-0 sister G 123 it was retained and overhauled for the
‘Leschenault Lady’ vintage train service at Bunbury and to my knowledge was
never withdrawn by the WAGR or successor Westrail. For tourist duties G 223
received the name ‘Leschenault Lady’, while G 123 was named ‘Koombana
Queen’. The pair subsequently worked the popular ‘Leschenault Lady’ vintage
train services around Bunbury over the following years, as illustrated
below.
G
233 has moved around the state in its subsequent preservation career. It
received an overhaul at the Midland Workshops in 1999 followed by a period
working tourist trains on the historic 'loop line' at Kalgoorlie in the WA
Goldfields. (I would appreciate the contribution of photos of G 233 at that
stage of its career for inclusion on this page.)
G 233 'Leschenault
Lady' later returned to the Bunbury area and is now housed at the South-West Rail
& Heritage Centre in Boyanup. The loco’s return to steam on
Sunday 22 August 2021 was a great milestone within a huge celebration
event.
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