Western Australian Railmotors

Photo credit: Don Finlayson Collection

WAGR ADE class suburban railcar

The WAGR ADE class (also known as the Governor class) was a class of diesel railcars operated by the Western Australian Government Railways between 1937 and 1962. Built by WG Armstrong, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, it was the first diesel-electric rail vehicle to enter service in Australia. The first fully-built set was followed in 1938 by a further five that were delivered in knocked down form and assembled at the Midland Railway Workshops. All were named after Governors of Western Australia, hence the class name.

It soon became apparent that the railcars had insufficient capacity so five AG carriages were adapted as trailers cars as an interim solution, pending six ADT trailers being delivered by the Midland Railway Workshops in late 1939. They operated on services from Perth to Merredin via Wyalkatchem, Perth to Merredin via the York-Bruce Rock line, Perth to Katanning, Bunbury to Northcliffe, Busselton and Donnybrook, and Geraldton to Mullewa and Yuna.

In 1949/50, they were displaced by the Wildflower class diesel railcars and sent to operate services in more remote parts of the state. Withdrawals commenced in 1957, with the last withdrawn in April 1962. After being stored at Midland Railway Workshops, most were scrapped in 1974.

WAGR ADF class suburban railcar

The WAGR ADF class (also known as the Wildflower class) was a six member class of diesel railcars operated by the Western Australian Government Railways between 1949 and 1975. Six diesel railcar sets were broght into service in 1949/50 to replace the Governor sets. Manufactured by Midland Railway Workshops, each set had one powered ADF railcar and two ADU trailers. All were named after wildflowers, hence the class name. The trains operated from Perth to Albany, Perth to Geraldton via Wongan Hills and Mullewa, Perth to Merredin, Perth to Chidlow, Perth to Ongerup and Kalgoorlie to Esperance. All were withdrawn between 1959 and 1963 as daylight country passenger trains were withdrawn and replaced by road coaches.

WAGR ADG class railcar

The WAGR ADG class was an 18 member class of diesel railcars operated by the Western Australian Government Railways between 1954 and 1992. They were commonplace on Perth's suburban railway lines during the 1960s to 80s. Having trialled Governor railcars on the Perth suburban network, in September 1951 an order was placed with Cravens, Sheffield for 18 diesel railcars with all delivered in 1954. An additional four were delivered for country operation as the ADH class. Midland Railway Workshops built nine AYE trailer cars on the second hand underframes that were operated between two ADGs to operate as three car sets. These were replaced by ADAs in 1962.

In 1963/64, the ADGs were fitted with superchargers and between 1969 and 1973 with Voith transmissions. In the mid-1980s, some were fitted with larger AEC 11.3 litre engines from withdrawn ADX railcars while others received new Mercedes-Benz engines. Most lasted until 1992 when replaced by electric trains. Two have been preserved by the Hotham Valley Railway and one by Rail Heritage WA.

WAGR ADH class regional railcar

There were four ADH class railcars introduced in 1955 for use on lightly trafficked lines. Designed to carry passengers and freight, the railcars were used on services to towns like Geraldton to Cue; Perth to Miling; Perth to Wyalkatchem. All were converted to suburbsn railcars in 1962-63.

Rail Motors By State