WAGR Pm and Pmr classes

The WAGR Pm and Pmr classes were two classes of 4-6-2 tender engine steam locomotives operated by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) between 1950 and the early 1970s.

Initially it was planned that Midland Railway Workshops build 10 with the balance built externally.

However capacity constraints at Midland saw the order for the full 35 placed with the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow.

The other sixteen were built as the Pmr class with roller bearings on all axles.

Although intended to operate passenger services, their independently sprung driving wheels gave a rough ride meaning they could not maintain schedules, hence they were quickly relegated to fast freight trains on the Eastern Goldfields and Great Southern lines and associated branches.

Pmr class locomotive no. 720 was the flagship of the Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society in the Mid North of South Australia . In May 1984, on an excursion trip, it traversed the iron floodway bridge 2 km south of Black Rock .