Pmr 735

Stored near Pinjarra

 

Pmr 735 seen stored in the workshop yard at Willis Light Engineering, Perth on 8 October 2005.

The cab is sitting behind the loco and appears to be painted in primer, suggesting some restoration work was underway.

The motion was complete at this stage but some corrosion is evident on the cylinder castings.

Despite being stripped, the loco appears to be a reasonable restoration candidate; I wonder was assessment was made?

This photo was kindly contributed by Jenni Cassidy.

Builder

North British Locomotive Company,

Glasgow

Builder’s Number & Year

26930 of 1950

Wheel Arrangement

4-6-2

 

Pmr 735 was the last built of a long line of Pacific 4-6-2 steam locomotives that graced WAGR metals. 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 detailed information about the Pm/Pmr-class locomotives, refer to the page for class leader Pm 701.)

Pmr 735 entered WAGR service on 31 August 1950 and was officially withdrawn 14 August 1972, giving a working life of just under 22 years. Photos show it stored at Midland Workshops after withdrawal from service. Fortunately, it escaped scrapping when Channel 7 WA wanted a locomotive for display at their Tuart Hill studios, selecting Pmr 735 for that purpose. It was purchased for $2,200 and delivered in February 1974. As per the photo below, it was nicely presented at Tuart Hill in a railway setting. Pmr 735 has since moved around the state during its preservation career but alas has not proven lucky in its travels.

After some years Channel 7 decided they didn’t need a steam locomotive as a display item. Pmr 735 was donated to Whiteman Park in August 1987 and displayed at Whiteman Village station for some years.

PMR 735 was sold to a prominent local rail enthusiast in 1993 and moved to his engineering business Willis Light Engineering in Riversdale Road, Burswood. I understand at that stage it was intended to restore the locomotive to operation for use by the Pemberton Tramway Co. Photos show the locomotive partially dismantled at this stage, with the cab removed and appearing to have been repaired, while the tender tank was similarly separated from the frames and appeared to have been repaired. It seems the project subsequently stalled; I’d be interested to know the circumstances and what was found during the assessment.

A change of location came in November 2013 when Pmr 735 was transported to Pinjarra by Hotham Valley Rail, apparently still partially dismantled. I believe it was intended for static display as a gatekeeper. More recent photos show the locomotive stored (still sans cab and the tender reduced to a frame only) at a discrete site near Pinjarra. Here it was reported the motion was attacked by metal thieves, thus adding to this unlucky locomotive’s woes. Hopefully one day the time, money and interest will be found for Pmr 735 to be rescued from dereliction and restored for display – perhaps like the recent dramatic change of fortunes for C17 763. In the meantime, contributions of further information or photos for this unlucky machine are welcome.

Pmr 735 displayed at the Channel 7 studios in the Perth suburb of Tuart Hill in April 1975.

At that stage the locomotive was complete and well cared for, but alas the intervening years have not been kind to this machine.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=23946

(Image reference T04937, original photographer - M. Searle.)

A train with smoke coming out of it

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Happy days for Pmr 735 as it wheels a down goods, seen arriving North Dandalup. Photo dated May 1968.

The photographer P. Hopper has many wonderful images in the WA Rail Heritage archive, including shots such as this taking advantage

of the sun’s angle in the late afternoon to illuminate the wheels etc and give an evening glint.

Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA archive:

http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7987

(Image reference P12178, 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 23 December 2023

d

Information provided by Neil Blinko via email,

7 April 2004.

e

Rail Heritage WA Members Newsletter, January / February 2021 -

Article ‘Locomotive History - PMR 735’ by Jeff Austin.

Page updated: 24 December 2023

Government Railways:

NSWGR

QGR

CR

WAGR

VR

TGR

SAR

 

Contributions

Home

Private & Industrial Railways:

NSW

QLD

Sugar

WA

Vic

Tas

SA

 

Copyright