WAGR Dd class

The WAGR Dd class was a class of 4-6-4T tank locomotive operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1946 and 1972.

WAGR Dd class
Dd592 passes through Jandakot with an ARHS excursion train, 1986
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Midland Railway Workshops Build date 1946 Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-4T Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) Length 43 ft 3 in (13.18 m) Loco weight 72 long tons 0 cwt (161,300 lb or 73.2 t) Fuel type Coal Water cap. 1,820 imp gal (8,300 L; 2,190 US gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 18.6 sq ft (1.73 m2) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinder size 18 in × 23 in (457 mm × 584 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 18,768 lbf (83.48 kN) Factor of adh. 4.7
Career Operators Western Australian Government Railways Numbers Dd591-Dd600 Nicknames Donald Ducks Preserved Dd592, Dd596 Disposition 2 preserved, 8 scrapped

History

The Dd type was an evolution of the Dm class. However unlike the Dm class which used components of the old E Class tender engines, the Dd class components were all new. All were built at the Midland Railway Workshops entering service between April and November 1946. They were built to haul suburban passenger services in Perth, although they did on occasions work to Bunbury on the South Western and Merredin on the Eastern lines. The first were withdrawn in 1969, with the remainder in 1970/71 following the entry into service of the ADK/ADB class diesel multiple units.

Preservation

Two have been preserved:

• Dd592 was preserved by the Australian Railway Historical Society in July 1972. In May 1984, Westrail commenced work at Midland Railway Workshops to restore it to operational condition as a Bicentennial project. It returned to service on 20 July 1985 and remained in service until August 1995. It became a static exhibit at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in May 1999.
• Dd596 was also purchased by the Australian Railway Historical Society in April 1974 and was placed on display at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum. In July 1990 it was placed on display at the Gosnells Railway Market.

Class list

The numbers and periods in service of each member of the Dd class were as follows:

Road number In service Withdrawn Notes 591 12 April 1946 10 February 1969 592 17 May 1946 14 August 1972 Preserved at Western Australian Rail Transport Museum 593 14 June 1946 10 September 1970 594 28 June 1946 10 February 1969 595 19 July 1946 17 June 1971 596 9 August 1946 17 June 1971 Preserved at Gosnells Railway Market 597 31 August 1946 17 June 1971 598 20 September 1946 10 February 1969 599 11 October 1946 10 February 1969 600 1 November 1946 10 September 1970

See also

• Rail transport in Western Australia
• List of Western Australian locomotive classes

References

Bibliography

• Gunzburg, Adrian (1968). WAGR Locomotives 1940–1968. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). pp. 13–15, 47. OCLC 219836193.
• Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN 0959969039.

External links

Media related to WAGR Dd class at Wikimedia Commons