M/Ms/Msa class Beyer-Garratts

Msa 496 accidentally scrapped

 

An undated view of Ms 425 at Midland Junction.

(It seems to be sporting an unusual thumb-print livery on the smokebox!)

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=20251

(Image reference P01396.)

Builder

M & Ms classes - Beyer Peacock & Co, Manchester

Msa class - WAGR Midland Workshops

Builder’s Number & Year

M class –      6 examples, Beyer Peacock & Co, 1911

Ms class –    7 examples, Beyer Peacock & Co, 1913

Msa class – 10 examples, WAGR Midland Workshops, 1930

Wheel Arrangement

2-6-0+0-6-2

 

Introduced in 1912, the M-class represent a significant innovation by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) as they were only the third Beyer-Garratt locomotive type in the world. With six locomotives delivered, they were also the first Beyer-Garratts ordered in significant quantity. Built by Beyer-Peacock in 1911, the M-class followed the pioneering Tasmanian Government Railways K-class Beyer-Garratts of 1909 by only 2 years. These 2-6-0+0-6-2 locomotives proved a useful addition to the WAGR fleet, fulfilling their design brief for use on lightly laid rural lines (built to open hinterland areas for agriculture and development) with curves as tight as 5 chain radius and grades as steep as 1:22 – indeed the Beyer-Garratt type came to be known for their mastery of such steep, twisting routes, particularly in southern Africa.

The first six M-class locos were supplied with saturated steam boilers, but Beyer Peacock & Co were quickly engaged to supply an additional seven locomotives fitted with superheaters, which became the Ms-class and entered service in 1913. The design evolved further in 1930 – 18 years after the first M-class entered service - with ten members of a somewhat enlarged and more powerful, which were designed and built at the WAGR Midland Workshops and became the ‘Msa-class’.

These handy locos were successful in service, no doubt the additional water and fuel capacity provided by the articulated Beyer-Garratt design proving useful in the Western Australian conditions. The design attracted the attention of other Australian buyers, with two units based on the Ms design built by Beyer Peacock & Co for Australian Portland Cement, Fyansford, Victoria. The two Fyansford locomotives were No.1 (b/n 6794 of 1936), followed a few years later by No.2 (b/n. 6935 of 1939), following the WAGR Ms-class design but with the boiler pressure increased from 160psi to 180psi, a more modern superheater and minor changes such as an improved cab.

Interestingly, the Victorian Railways also essentially copied the WAGR Ms-class with their order for Beyer-Garratts G41 and G42, although these were built to 2' 6" gauge with driving wheels within the frames, inclined cylinders and other modifications.

The WAGR Beyer-Garratt locos were retired after World War 2, as more modern steam locomotives became available in volume, with the original M-class retired by 194, the Ms-class by 1951 and finally the Msa by the 1961. Photos of the Midland Workshops scrap lines in the mid-1960’s show several Msa-class locos among the many unfortunates awaiting their fate.

Alas none of the WAGR M/Ms/Msa-class Beyer-Garratts family survive. Adrian Gunzburg states in his authorative book 'A history of WAGR steam locomotives' that an Msa-class loco had been retained at Midland Workshops for intended preservation, but was cut-up by mistake. Photographic evidence suggests Msa 496 was the unlucky machine; although stored in September 1959 and officially withdrawn in October 1963, it was photographed in store at Midland Workshops on 19 March 1967 (as seen below) stencilled “not to be cut up” - but apparently that instruction was too ambiguous for the Midland cutting crew. I suspect other steam locos possibly intended for preservation may also have been lost at the same time, such as K-class 2-8-4T representative K 40. (I have a macabre fascination with the unfortunate of the Midland accidental scrappings and would be interested to receive more information; perhaps a retired Midland Workshops employee can fill in the details.)

While the WAGR M/Ms/Msa-classes were lost, fortunately that wasn’t quite the end of the story. Against the odds, one of the two Fyansford locos survived and today the preserved Fyansford No.2 remains as a close link to the important WAGR design in the evolution and ultimate success of the Beyer-Garratt type of locomotive. In addition, Victorian Railways G 42 is preserved and operational at the famous Puffing Billy Railway in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges.

Ms 430 at Midland Junction in May 1951. Apparently, this locomotive was originally Ms 427.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=26138

(Image reference P19894, original photographer – J. L. Buckland)

A train on the railway tracks

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Msa 468 in ex-workshops photographic grey livery for an official portrait, taken at Midland Junction, circa 1930.
A watermark in the bottom-right is stamped “C.M.E Branch 1146 W.A.G.R.”

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=2973

(Image reference P06365.)

Msa 496 (with Number and Builder’s plates intact) stored in the salvage yard, Midland Junction, on 19 March 1967.

"Not to be Cut Up" is clearly stencilled on the side of the bunker – but apparently not sufficient to prevent the locos destruction.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7200

(Image reference P11391, original photographer P. Hopper.)

A second Msa class loco awaiting scrapping at Midland Junction on 19 March 1967; this one appears shorn of builder and number plates.

The higher front water tanks and extended bunker of Msa class (compared to the earlier M and Ms classes) are evident in this forlorn scene.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7206

(Image reference P11397, original photographer P. Hopper.)

A melancholy but fascinating view of retired steam locomotives awaiting scrapping in the Midland Workshops graveyard, circa 1959.

In the front row is a G-class 2-6-0/4-6-0, followed by a Msa-class Beyer-Garratt coupled to a rusty K-class 2-8-4T.

An Australian Standard Garratt is lurking behind the K-class, and also visible is a Baldwin tender behind an early Pacific chassis, and a boilerless B-class 4-6-0T.

In the back row can be seen the relatively modern U-class oil burners in green livery; these lasted in storage until the late 1960’s.

I recall being intrigued by a photo from similar vantage point and date in book I borrowed from my local library during the 1980’s -
I stumbled across a copy of that book again in a recent second-hand jumble sale… another addition to my library!

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=11802

(Image reference T03193, original photographer R. Moss)

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, Photo Archive,

(via various images as represented on this page)

retrieved 6 January 2023

d

‘Garratt Locomotives of the World’ by A. E. Durrant,

published by Bracken Books, London, 1987

 

 

Page updated: 21 December 2023

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