Pm 706

Hotham Valley Railway

Diving past Pinjarra towards the Margaret River vineyards on 12 May 2002 provided an opportunity to see what could be found at the loco depot.

Pm 706 ‘Narrogin’ was resting cold outside the running shed, wearing an unauthentic but attractive red livery.

I believe the ‘Narrogin’ nameplate was designed by the Hotham Valley Railway, but it appears to follow the WAGR style applied to the Pr-class ‘River’ nameplates.

Builder	North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow
Builder’s Number & Year	26550 of 1949
Wheel Arrangement	4-6-2

Pm 706 is one of the fine Pm/Pmr-class Pacific locos built by North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow in the post-war years. 35 Pm / Pmr class locomotives were built, the first 18 as Pm-class while the final 17 locos were further enhanced with roller-bearings on the driving wheels, hence Pmr class. Although designed for passenger service, the Pm/Pmr-class proved better suited to fast freight duties and lasted in that capacity until the end of WAGR steam. (For more information about the Pm/Pmr-class locomotives, refer to the page for class leader Pm 701.)

Pm 706 entered WAGR service on 7 March 1950 and was officially withdrawn on 17 June 1971, giving a working life of 21 years. While most class members ended their days among the many relatively modern WAGR steam locos cut up for scrap metal in the 1970’s, Pm 706 was spared this fate. It was purchased by the Narrogin Apex Club and plinthed at Narrogin, once the site of a busy steam loco depot.

In 1988 the Narrogin Apex Club placed Pm 706 on long-term lease to the Pinjarra Steam & Hills Preservation Society, now known as the Hotham Valley Railway (HVR). It was transported to Pinjarra and restored to service, apparently with a focus on main-line operations. Indeed its axle-load it too heavy for the HVR’s regular run up the steep branch line to Dwellingup, which remains in the hands of their sturdy W-class 4-8-2 locos. Pm 706 must have been in relatively good order despite its years plinthed at Narrogin – apparently it had been under a weather roof – as Hotham Valley volunteers returned the loco to steam as soon as May 1990. Pm 706 was named “Narrogin’ by the HVR in recognition of the town’s role in saving the locomotive and making it available for restoration, with the nameplates appearing to be a faithful recreation of the WAGR style applied to the ‘River’ Pr-class locomotives.

In 2002, Pm 706 received a new red livery in support of the HVR’s “Wizards Express” train. The Pm/Pmr class wore the handsome WAGR Larch Green livery during their service careers, but the new livery is certainly striking even if unauthentic!

Pm 706 as newly delivered to the Hotham Valley Railway depot at Pinjarra after its time plinthed at Northam, seen on 16 January 1990.

The connecting rod and some motion is missing, presumably removed for transport. The loco steamed again later in 1990.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=16061

(Image reference P02291, original photographer – L. Purcell.)

Pm 706 entering Avon Yard with a freight train from the Eastern Goldfields Railway. Photo dated 1968.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7939

(Image reference P12130, original photographer – P. Hopper.)

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: ‘Pm Class Steam Locomotive’: https://www.railheritagewa.org.au/museum/locos/pages/pm_steam.php retrieved 24 December 2023
d	HVT website, ‘Steam Locomotives’ page: https://www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/steam-locomotives Retrieved 24 December 2023

Page updated: 24 December 2023

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