WAGR C Class (1881) Steam Locomotives

The C class were ordered from Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle to operate services on the first railway line in Perth, the Eastern Railway from Fremantle to Guildford.

History:
Two 0-6-0 tank engines were ordered for help with construction work. Both tank engines and some rolling all arrived on the barque Fitzroy on the 11 January 1881 they unloaded on the South Bay Jetty. These tank engines were built by Robert Stephenson & Co and were practically a simplified version of the New Zealand Railways much more successful F Class. With C1 entering service on the 21 February 1881 and C2 on April 11 1881. Both locomotives burnt wood which already created problems they were both later fitted with bunkers to expand on fuel (coal/wood) capacity. Lots of people blamed the makers for bad workmanship due to the tank engines bad performance but the real issue was the bad water quality in the boiler used at the time which people at that time thought was just normal water. Also in a magazine titled WA Railway & Tramway Magazine a person interviewed recounted the two tank engines as green early private photographs prove this as the colour is a bit darker but lighter then the smoke box black like green with a lighter colour as lining probably yellow or gold. After the opening of the Fremantle Workshops the tank engines were greatly improved along with water quality. Goods trains became heavier and longer starting in 1883 which started to render the tank engines as useless but they still had work shunting and construction trains. In 1885 the railways started to put locomotives into classes with the two tank engines as mentioned before becoming C1 & C2 and were put on light passenger duties being replaced by the B Class in goods work. But then the locomotives became to slow for most passenger work.

The Cape Horn Accident:
Then the 'Cape Horn' Accident occurred on 8th December 1885 near Boya, a runaway ballast train hauled by C1 derailed on the sharp curve known as Cape Horn and plunged down the embankment. The accident was happened like so... C1 was sent to York to collect eight loaded ballast wagons near Smith's Mill (Know Glen Forrest) The driver of the C1 at the time was named Peake and the Fireman Pontigi and the Guard D. Guilfoyle. The trucks stood between Chidlow's Well and Guildford. Then as Guilfoyle was putting the trucks brakes on the trucks began to move. Pontigi put the loco's engine brakes on immediately, Peake then started to reverse C1 but it was to late the trucks had gathered enough momentum and quickly started dashing down the hill pushing C1 and her crew with the train. The train was going at about 40 mph Guilfoyle kept trying to put the brakes on the trucks on but was swung of in the process smashing his head on the ground. Then the train reached 60 mph Peake and Pontigi jumped of the train at a time they don't know. The train sped on past at more then 80 mph and C1 and the trucks left the rails at the sharp curve known as Cape Horn the train falling down the embankment another 7 miles. Guilfoyle regained consciousness and reported the accident at Guildford Station. The driver Ellis Peake was fined 3 days pay for jumping the train while it was out of control. C1 was taken out of service with C2 continuing service through 1885 - 1886. C1 was stored in Fremantle workshops until 1887. In 1886 the SS Elderslie arrived at Fremanlte with five sets of engine tenders and brakes. In 1887 C1 and C2 underwent a rebuild being fitted each with a four-wheel tender, cowcatcher at both ends (removed circa 1900) and a spark arrestor inside the smoke box the bulvous on being removed as it was unreliable at this point. Both engines returned to service in march of 1887 this led to better safety and braking systems on the WAGR making it a milestone in history. Later in 1887 C1 was involved in a dramatic run from Fremantle to Perth. As the fire at Barracks building on St. George's Terrace on Saturday 3rd December. While the building was damaged it could have been much worse had it not been for the railways and the availability of C1. With C1 delivering water and the Firemen and equipment 20 minutes before police arrived. By October 31st 1892 C1 had covered 15,910 miles and C2 an impressive 19,411 miles. But the gold rush was bringing with it rapid expansion with bigger and more standard engines arriving in large numbers. So they were both put on shunting duties and Fremantle Harbour construction work. Where they started to have minor accidents due to their age. By 1899 all harbour works trains had been given to the G and J class locomotives so C1 was sold to Westralian Jarrah Forests Ltd. C2 meanwhile lingered on works trains until 1901 when she was stored at midland junction where she was sold to J.W. Wright for construction work and Jarrah Timber & Wood Paving Corporation Ltd. C2 was named Nevada when it was working Worsley in 1901. C2 later became part of 'The Combine' which was a group of merged logging company's. Both C1 and C2 would continue to serve saw mills for the next 30-40 years with the exception of C2 sometimes doing construction work. Around the 1940's while working for Bunning Bros C2's saddle tank was removed for unknown reasons. Eventually C1 would become derelict at Yarloop Workshops with other locomotives. While C2 would eventually become stored in a shed at Lyall's Mill after the rail connection from Collie Cardiff after being retired in 1957. It was later noted in 1970 'Scrapping in progress'. C1 meanwhile was donated by millars where it was restored by the WAGR and put on display in front of V Class No.1201 the last loco built for the WAGR and by Robert Stephenson for the WAGR. Then put on display at Perth station before being donated to the ARHS WA division where it was put on display at the Claremount Perth Show Grounds with the rest of the collection later C1 was moved to the ARHS's museum the Bassendean Railway Museum where it was displayed at the entrance of the museum in it's logging days livery (colour). Until 2004 when it was repainted and moved under cover with the collections oldest carriage from 1884 for company.

Known Numbers:
C1

C2