Western Australian Government Railways

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the earlier name for the current Public Transport Authority (PTA) of Western Australia, an arm of the Government of Western Australia.

In earlier times it had an extensive system of railway branches and lines throughout Western Australia. The network of branches were of vital importance in the state prior to the expanded use of motor transport for the moving of agricultural, forestry and mining products.

Legislative restrictions were implemented at some stages to limit competition from road transport. Notably in the 1930s through to the 1950s the Transport Co-ordination Board kept strict control over trucking, buses and commercial road traffic.

The transformation from WAGR with a full range of branches listed below — through to Westrail (another name during its changes) to the PTA — caused a loss of local branches, and sidings.

The move from a small customer oriented system to a predominantly bulk carrier main line system, in the late twentieth century left many smaller communities smarting from the loss of local employment and facilities usually associated with the older style of working. However in the wheatbelt, bulk handling of grain continued despite the changes.

Some branches were isolated from the main system, such as the Marble Bar and the Hopetoun lines. Most branch lines in the system were constructed by the 1930s. The main era for closures was in the post-World War II era of the 1950s when a many non-paying branches were closed.

With the completion of the standard gauge line to Kalgoorlie in the mid 1960s, many lines closed. By the early 1970s, diesel power had completely replaced steam (see Locomotive).

The X and the modified XA diesel engines appeared on most promotional material for the WAGR in the late 1950s and 1960s expressing the modernity of their operations, the Westrail Symbol on the side of the X class was the symbol of the 1970s of moving on from the older and longer name.
The X and the modified XA diesel engines appeared on most promotional material for the WAGR in the late 1950s and 1960s expressing the modernity of their operations, the Westrail Symbol on the side of the X class was the symbol of the 1970s of moving on from the older and longer name.

Contents

(Source: State Records Office of Western Australia website)

One of the WAGR logos on old rolling stock at the ARHS Museum at Bassendean
One of the WAGR logos on old rolling stock at the ARHS Museum at Bassendean

During the history of the WAGR - the best known were the following:

  • Albany Progress - Albany - Perth (Overnight, with sleeping berths)
  • Australind - Bunbury - Perth
  • Kalgoorlie Express - Kalgoorlie - Perth
  • Midlander - Geraldton - Perth (Overnight, with sleeping berths)
  • Mullewa - Mullewa - Perth (Overnight, with sleeping berths)
  • Westland - Kalgoorlie - Perth (Overnight, with sleeping berths)

others:

  • Albany Weekender - Albany - Perth (Overnight, with sleeping berths)
  • Bunbury Belle - Bunbury - Perth
  • The Shopper - Bunbury - Perth

In the 1940s and 1950s, usage of the Governor Class Diesel services on country lines was common, and services within distance of a couple of hours of Perth were accessed - rather than the longer more distant locations serviced by the overnight sleeper trains.

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. There were also road freight services, while the restrictions on non-government trucking were still in force.

For a different way of identifying branches/routes see Quinlan and Newland.

In rail administration, lines were given generic titles such as the Eastern Railway, the South Western, rather than after the destination.

old Leighton Marshalling Yards.
old Leighton Marshalling Yards.

For most of the years that the WAGR existed as that entity, main offices, and divisional offices and buildings were all within a short range of Perth Railway Station. Rationalisation of the diverse addresses and locations occurred with the construction of the East Perth Head Office building.

  • Affleck, Fred N. On track : the making of Westrail, 1950 to 1976 . Perth : Westrail, 1978. ISBN 0-7244-7560-5
  • May, Andrew and Gray, Bill. A History of WAGR Passenger Carriages. Perth:The Author, 2006. ISBN 0-646-45902-3
  • Quinlan, Howard & Newland, John R. Australian Railway Routes 1854-2000 2000. ISBN 0-909650-49-7

There are both web sites and groups on the internet that contain references to the rolling stock and the operations of the WAGR era.

The Western Australian Branch of the Australian Railway Historical Society also maintains a website with links.

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