WAGR C/Ca Class Steam Locomotive

The first batch of 12 engines was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia in 1902. This batch was originally of a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, and was a lighter version of the Ec class, gaining them the Baby Yanks nickname. Between 1908 and 1918 these were fitted with larger, improved boilers and converted to a 4-6-2 configuration.

History:
The locomotives originally classed C worked on mail and mixed passenger trains on the Eastern Goldfields and Great Southern lines. Later in about 1908 they moved to the Northern and South Western lines doing exactly the same work there. Then in 1915 ten more emerged from Midland Workshops and were reclassified as the Ca class due to their 4-6-2 configuration with all 1902 originals also getting their configurations converted to 4-6-2's with last of the C class turning into a Ca class in 1918. Later 17 of the class had super-heated boilers fitted starting in June of 1929 and reclassified as the Cs class. Then five of these were fitted with new frames and most of the classes were also put on goods work during and after the war. Withdrawals began in the late 1950's with last of the class in WAGR ownership being withdrawn in 1962. However four Cs class locomotives still remained in service on the Railway Department Sawmill on the Banksiadale Railway. These engines being Cs 270 Black Butt, Cs 432 Marri, Cs 439 Banksia and Cs 440 Jarrah. However all were included in the sale of the timber mill to Hawker Siddeley Building Supplies in October 1961. After being replaced by road transport, all were scrapped at Subiaco in June 1964.

Known Numbers:
C(a)264

C(a) 265

C(a) 266

C(a) 267

C(a) 268

C(a/s) 269

C(a/s) 270

C(a/s) 271

C(a/s) 272

C(a/s) 273

C(a/s) 274

C(a/s) 275

C(a/s) 431

C(a/s) 432

C(a/s) 433

C(a/s) 434

C(a/s) 435

C(a/s) 436

C(a/s) 437

C(a/s) 438

C(a/s) 439

C(a/s) 440