The WAGR AO class was a three member class of petrol-driven railmotors or railcars operated between 1922 and 1950 by the Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). The motorised chassis were supplied by the Motor Rail and Tram Car Co Ltd, of Bedford, England in 1922. The Agent General for Western Australia ordered them through agents Flower & Davies and they were delivered to Midland Railway Workshops for bodies to be fitted.[1]

WAGR AO class
AO 431 in Kalgoorlie-Boulder
ManufacturerMotor Rail & Tram Car Co Ltd
Constructed1922
Entered service1922
Number built3
Fleet numbers430–432
Capacity36-40
OperatorsWAGR
Specifications
Car length24 ft 4 in
Width8 ft
Wheelbase9 ft
Maximum speed30 mph
Prime mover(s)Dorman 4JO
Power output40 hp
TransmissionDixon-Abbott Patent Gearbox
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Initially, the cars were based at Albany, Narrogin, and Merredin.[2]

One was destroyed by fire at Narrogin in October 1926 when petrol ignited during refuelling.[3]

Two were at Albany in 1936 when one was destroyed by fire in the loco shed, shortly after the other had been transferred to Kalgoorlie.[4]

The Kalgoorlie unit, 431, is the only one to have survived long enough officially to be classified as an AO class vehicle, in 1937.[5] It was involved in a fatal level crossing accident at Coolgardie in 1938.[6]


References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Walters & Waywell, 2006
  2. ^ The Daily News (Perth) 20 July 1922 page 5 [1]
  3. ^ The West Australian, 23 October 1926 page 8 [2]
  4. ^ Western Argus (Kalgoorlie), 8 September 1936 page 2 [3]
  5. ^ May & Gray 2006, p. 133–134.
  6. ^ Coolgardie Miner, 8 December 1938 page 12 [4]

Bibliography

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  • May, Andrew S; Gray, Bill (2006). A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Midland, WA: Bill Gray. ISBN 0646459023.
  • Walters, Clive & Waywell, Robin, The Motor Rail Works List, Dennis Duck Publications, 2006
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