42-617: East Perth Locomotive Depot (also known as East Perth loco sheds ) was a major steam locomotive depot for the Western Australian Government Railways from a year before the end of the First World War in 1917 until the end of the steam railway era on its railway system in 1970/1971. The previous locomotive depot had been located west of the Perth railway station. It was also commonly known as East Perth loco sheds and also
84-552: A large number of buildings near the Perth station. Jack Stanbridge devotes 41 photos on 10 pages of his first volume of his collection known as 70 years of rails & wire in Western Australia for reflections about the Depot. In the late twentieth century numbers of former employees who had worked at the depot, were interviewed for the oral history record. Organised labour had reason to strike and raise issues of conditions during
126-575: A merger of Westrail with Australian National was being investigated. Nothing ever came of it. On 17 December 2000, the WAGR's freight division along with the Westrail name and logo were sold to Australia Western Railroad , a subsidiary of the Australian Railroad Group (ARG). The deal also saw the WAGR's freight lines leased to ARG for 99 years. The WAGR's remaining functions, including owning
168-489: A red stripe later added. In the late 1960s, a grey and light blue livery was introduced. The latter was resurrected by South Spur Rail Services in the early 2000s. Carriages were painted Indian red, before a larch green and cream livery was introduced in October 1951. When launched in 1964, The Midlander stock was painted in a maroon and ivory livery. When the Westrail brand was introduced in 1975, an orange and blue livery
210-567: A seasonal basis. In the late 1960s, the Eastern and Eastern Goldfields lines between Perth and Kalgoorlie was gauge converted to allow through operation of trains from the eastern states along with the Esperance & Menzies lines , with sections through the Avon River and east of Southern Cross built on new alignments. A concerted program of dieselisation saw diesel locomotives replace
252-442: A service from Perth to Kojonup via Boddington . By 1949, there were 28 buses. and by 1959, more than fifty. Dual-purpose buses that also carried freight were introduced in 1949. Buses operated included Fodens , articulated trailer buses , AECs , Leyland Lions , Hino RC320Ps and Mercedes-Benz O303s . In the late 1960s, long-distance coaches operated from Perth to Meekatharra , Esperance , Geraldton and Albany . In
294-436: A service was officially named. Further trains were named in the 1960s in an effort to increase the prestige of rail travel. The WAGR operated services from Perth to many destinations throughout the state. In 1935, it operated 63 sleeper services a week. It also operated local passenger, many operating as mixed trains . The last of these ceased in 1973. While the current Perth urban passenger network operated by Transperth
336-537: A total of 61 styles. The lack of uniformity caused difficulties in operation and maintenance, and made necessary a large and widely varying stock of spare parts of limited interchangeability. In the early 1950s, the WAGR implemented a replacement program of goods wagons built instead to rigidly standard designs, on only three types of underframes, 5.5, 11.0 and 12.8 metres (18, 36 and 42 ft) in length, respectively. The new standard designs provided for increased axle loads and higher tare -load ratios, and
378-399: A wide variety of services throughout its history, including the more standard country and suburban passenger and freight workings as well as a limited electrified service, early country railcar services, road bus services and overnight sleeper services to distant destinations. Although some passenger trains were bestowed nicknames, it was not until The Westland was launched in 1938, that
420-522: Is currently not on display. In December 1937, the Governor class diesel railcars were introduced on daylight regional services from Perth. The longer distance services remained locomotive hauled. Where lines were closed in the 1940s and 1950s, or passenger services discontinued, road bus services were introduced. Most of the services and the same routes continue to the present. The rail-road services commenced on 24 November 1941 with one vehicle operating
462-696: Is entirely electrified, between May 1924 and March 1969 the State Electricity Commission operated the only electrified line in Western Australia as part of the WAGR network. The line was 800 metres (2,600 ft) in length and operated within the confines of the East Perth Power Station . The electric locomotive used on the railway is preserved at the Western Australian Rail Transport Museum in Bassendean , though
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#1732855558252504-640: The Pichi Richi Railway . With the deregulation of the Australian rail market in the 1990s, former WAGR rolling stock has operated in other states, with L class locomotives having operated in the eastern states for ATN Access , Aurizon and Pacific National . In September 1970, WAGR News Letter was launched as a staff newsletter . The last edition was published in December 1973, with Movement superseding it. From 1975 until 1981, Westrail News Letter
546-734: The Swan View Tunnel . A few isolated lines were operated, such as the Marble Bar line in the Pilbara and the Hopetoun to Ravensthorpe railway line on the South Coast. With many lines in need of heavy maintenance, rolling stock in need of replacement and heavy losses being incurred, during the 1950s many branches closed with 1,320 kilometres (820 mi) of the network so treated in 1956–57, although 275 kilometres (171 mi) were subsequently reopened on
588-551: The 1930s until the 1950s, when the Transport Co-ordination Board kept strict control over commercial road traffic through powers vested by the State Transport Co-ordination Act 1933 . As road transportation expanded and losses escalated, many lines closed from 1949. The network peaked in 1937 at 6,600 kilometres (4,100 mi). Unusually for such a large network, only one tunnel was required,
630-415: The 1969-70 extension of standard gauge into Perth. At each end of the main platform are bay platforms; the three to the east (adjacent to the former water tank and signal box) were where Boulder loop line passenger services arrived, and the western one is where the current Prospector services terminate. The eastern bays were converted to standard gauge for Trans-Australia Railway, prior to the extension of
672-716: The Department was abolished and replaced by the WAGR and the Department of Works and Buildings (later the Public Works Department ). The WAGR network was joined to that of the rest of mainland Australia, albeit to 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge , a different gauge, in October 1917 with the opening of the Commonwealth Railways ' Trans-Australian Railway to Kalgoorlie . Legislative restrictions were implemented to limit competition from road transport, most notably from
714-565: The East Perth Depot. The depot was operational from 1917. There was a turntable at the western end of the yard. It was located just east of the main railway terminus for the system at what is now Perth station . It was removed in 1969 to make way for the new East Perth railway station and the Westrail Centre that centralised railway administration offices of the government railway system, that had previously been scattered around
756-713: The Midland Railway Workshops. From the late 1930s, the WAGR operated diesel railcars such as the Governor and Wildflower classes. In 1936, the WAGR owned 420 locomotives, 4 railcars, 461 carriages, 24 brake vans and 11,052 goods wagons. A survey of goods wagons carried out in 1949 disclosed that the WAGR had 54 classes of 4-wheeled vehicles and 13 different types of bogie wagons. The 4-wheeled vehicles had been built on 12 different types of underframes in no fewer than 71 variations, ranging in length from 3.4 to 6.4 metres (11 to 21 ft). The bogie wagons were mounted on six different types of bogie trucks and represented
798-648: The Westrail brand were privatised. Its remaining passenger operations were transferred to the Public Transport Authority in July 2003. The WAGR had its origins in 1879, when the Department of Works & Railways was established. The first government railway line in Western Australia opened on 26 July 1879, between Geraldton and Northampton . It was followed by the Eastern Railway from Fremantle to Guildford via Perth on 1 March 1881. The WAGR adopted
840-503: The associated industries. These tours went as far north as Geraldton and east to Kalgoorlie , but most commonly south to the forest areas around Pemberton and that town's timber mills. Tours also covered apple festivals in Bridgetown and Manjimup . The first tour was organised for industry and business leaders from Victoria , but by 1933 they were open to the public and sufficiently popular to have waiting lists. A defining aspect of
882-406: The changes. In September 1975, the WAGR adopted the trading name Westrail and an associated logo. However, the official name of the WAGR was not changed. The new name was the main element of a complete program to improve the WAGR's public image. Every visible feature of the organisation was to be associated with the new Westrail identity. The transition from WAGR to Westrail quickly began, with
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#1732855558252924-579: The early 1970s the WAGR Bus service included seasonal six-day Wildflower Study Tours from Perth and along roads to and from Geraldton through the northern wheatbelt. These had first been operated in 1948 by the Midland Railway of Western Australia . Also in the early 1970s, the King Karri Scenicruiser buses ran from Bunbury through Manjimup , Pemberton , Northcliffe and Walpole to Albany at
966-401: The existence of the depot. Some complaints had also been made collectively without union involvement. [REDACTED] Media related to East Perth locomotive depot at Wikimedia Commons 31°56′41″S 115°52′36″E / 31.9446°S 115.8766°E / -31.9446; 115.8766 Western Australian Government Railways Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR)
1008-484: The following railways: In 1917, Kalgoorlie became a break-of-gauge station when the Commonwealth Railways ' standard gauge Trans-Australian Railway from Port Augusta opened. This ceased on 3 August 1968, when the Eastern Goldfields Railway was gauge converted . Surveyed in 1899, the line went from Kalgoorlie station. The platform linking to the line was at the east end and on the south side of
1050-451: The last steam locomotives in March 1972. In the late 20th century, the end of restrictions on competing road transport resulted in the WAGR and its successors moving from being a small customer-oriented system to a predominantly main line bulk carrier operation. This resulted in many smaller communities losing their facilities. However, in the wheatbelt, bulk handling of grain continued despite
1092-577: The late 1890s, as part of the extension of the Eastern Goldfields Railway from Coolgardie in January 1897. The station was formally opened by the Governor of Western Australia , Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Gerard Smith KCMG , at a ceremony held on the station platform on 8 September 1896. In the early stages of the development of railways in the Eastern Goldfields , it was the junction for
1134-412: The main platform. Due to costs and passenger decline, in 1920, some of the stations listed below were reduced in status by ceasing to be booking stations: Hannan Street, Golden Gate, Brown Hill and Trafagar. In 1921, fares increased. In 1930, the passenger service was closed. The platform was the longest in Western Australia, 527 m It was eclipsed by the new East Perth Terminal platform, built for
1176-425: The narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm ) to reduce construction costs. Over the next few decades, an extensive network of railway lines throughout Western Australia was built, primarily to service the wheatbelt . Prior to the expanded use of road transport, the network was of vital importance in the state, particularly for the moving of agricultural, forestry and mining products. In 1890,
1218-577: The new name rapidly and almost universally replacing the old one in the vocabulary of staff and the public. Strong impetus to acceptance of the new corporate identity was given by the completion of a new Westrail office headquarters and passenger facility at East Perth Terminal (then known as Perth Terminal). The new building, named the Westrail Centre, was opened by the Premier of Western Australia , Sir Charles Court , on 12 November 1976. Westrail
1260-594: The new wagons were also fitted with NCDA-type central drawbars and doubly articulating couplers. In connection with the gauge conversion of the Eastern and Eastern Goldfields Railways in the late 1960s, the WAGR constructed a stock of standard gauge goods vehicles, including a class of wheat hopper wagons that, with a maximum payload of almost 77 tonnes (170,000 lb), were the largest freight vehicles operated by any Government railway in Australia. Chief Mechanical Engineer
1302-851: The rail network and operating regional passenger services, were transferred to the Western Australian Government Railways Commission. On 1 January 2003, the WAGR Commission's functions were absorbed by the Public Transport Authority . The former Westrail Centre is now known as the Public Transport Centre . The WAGR was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsibility for tram and ferry operations that it assumed and later relinquished. Initially, Westrail applied an orange with blue stripe livery to its locomotives and passenger vehicles. Freight rolling stock and road trucks were painted yellow, and blue
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1344-521: The railways between 1893 and 1959, however to appreciate the number of commissions that had relevance to railway operations, the coal and wheat industries were linked with the railway operations as well. The following are a selected group of commissions: The WAGR purchased the Great Southern Railway in December 1896 and the Midland Railway of Western Australia in August 1964. The WAGR operated
1386-505: The restrictions on non-government trucking were still in force, with suburban truck services from Perth to Midland , Fremantle , Kewdale and Gosnells . The country services were extensive having Perth and country rail stations as terminal locations. From 1928 until the 1970s (excluding a hiatus from 1929 to c. 1933 , due to the Great Depression ), WAGR ran "reso tours" as a way of publicising WA's natural resources , and
1428-482: The same time the Albany Progress overnight train was still operating, making it possible to do a round trip by rail from Perth to Albany and bus from Albany to Perth via Bunbury. In the mid-1970s some services reflected where rail services had either closed or had ceased providing facilities for passengers, the following selection is not the total service at the time. There were also road-freight services, while
1470-818: The standard gauge line to Perth. Due to it being the western terminus of the Trans-Australian Railway , the station has been the location of a number of commemorations and ceremonies from the opening of that railway in 1917 and since. Kalgoorlie is served by the Transwa Prospector rural train service and the Indian Pacific . It was also previously served by the Kalgoorlie Express , The Westland and Trans Australian . The Prospector service runs to and from East Perth once or twice each day. The Indian Pacific also stops here. It runs once
1512-578: The tours was that they included all food and accommodation; passengers slept on the train rather than in a separate hotel, and the trains were referred to as "hotels on wheels". Tours typically ran over a weekend, leaving on Friday evening and returning on Monday morning. There were longer tours; in 1961 an 18-day tour included Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury , Katanning and Pemberton. Until 1951, most steam locomotives were painted black. From that date, locomotives used on passenger services were painted green. The early diesel locomotives were painted green, with
1554-776: Was introduced for locomotives. In the late 1990s, this was superseded by a yellow and blue livery. The WAGR operated a large number of unique steam, diesel and electric locomotive classes. Most of the steam locomotives were built in the United Kingdom, with the WAGR's Midland Railway Workshops building some from 1915. The early diesels were mainly built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in England, Clyde Engineering in Sydney , and English Electric in Brisbane . Later diesels were assembled in Perth. The WAGR built much of its carriage and wagon stock at
1596-468: Was published as a staff newsletter . Kalgoorlie railway station Kalgoorlie railway station is the easternmost attended station in Western Australia , located at the eastern terminus of the Eastern Goldfields Railway . It serves the city of Kalgoorlie . Beyond Kalgoorlie, the line continues east as the Trans-Australian Railway . Construction of the railway station and yard was begun in
1638-565: Was responsible for managing the state's rail infrastructure. It operated urban and regional passenger and freight services throughout Western Australia. In Perth, Westrail provided the metropolitan area rail service, under contract to another arm of the State government. Its country passenger services involved the operation of both trains and road coaches. In October 1987, it was announced by Premier Brian Burke and Federal Minister for Land Transport & Infrastructure Support , Peter Duncan , that
1680-654: Was the highest posting at the Midland Railway Workshops , which in turn managed (through construction, repair and design) all aspects of railway maintenance and equipment. The post was established in 1900 and abandoned in 1989. A number of former WAGR locomotives and rolling stock types, as well as many examples of WAGR architecture and railway infrastructure have been preserved, with the Hotham Valley Railway and Rail Heritage WA holding extensive collections. Some items are preserved interstate, notably by
1722-404: Was the state owned operator of railways in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government , it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsibility for tram and ferry operations that it assumed and later relinquished. Westrail was the trading name of the WAGR from September 1975 until December 2000, when the WAGR's freight division and
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1764-474: Was used on all signs, buildings and printed material. The Westrail logo incorporated a stylised ⟨W⟩ surmounted by a solid bar representing a railway track. Between the bar and the ⟨W⟩ was the word ⟨Westrail⟩ . In July 1997, a yellow with blue livery was unveiled when the first Q class diesel-electric locomotive was delivered. A range of committees of inquiry as well as Royal Commissions were conducted on aspects of
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