The M class engines were built in 1875 by
Kitson & Co,
Leeds as the first two items of motive power for the
Northampton railway line, the first government railway in Western Australia. They were delivered to the port of
Geraldton, the western terminus of the line, in 1876.[1]
In 1893, both engines were relocated to
Fremantle for use on the
Eastern Railway. M24 was sold to Whittaker Bros in 1907, and M23 to
Bunning Bros in 1911.[2]
Class list
Number
Builder's number
In service
Withdrawn
Notes
M23
2035
April 1876
August 1911
sold to
Bunning Bros, spent most of its time at Lyalls Mill near
Collie, but used at Muja (1938) and
Yornup (February 1940 to March 1943) withdrawn by July 1946, scrapped by November 1958
M24
2036
February 1876
March 1907
sold to Whittaker Bros,
North Dandalup in 1907 and named Danadalup, remained in use until the timber mill was destroyed by fire in 1944, sold to Bunning Bros in July 1945 and worked at Lyalls Mill and Yornup, numbered 4 in February 1951 and scrapped by March 1955
Namesakes
The M class designation was reused in the 1910s for the
M class of Garratt locomotives and again in the 1970s when the
M class diesel locomotives entered service.
Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division).
ISBN0959969039.