Midland Railway of Western Australia
Encyclopedia
The Midland Railway of Western Australia was a privately built and operated railway in Western Australia, operated by the British-owned Midland Railway Company of Western Australia. The Midland Railway (MR) ran between Midland
, an industrial satellite city of Perth
, and Walkaway
near the city of Geraldton and was built on a land-grant principle.
The Midland Railway was one of the longest-lived privately-owned railways in Australia, operating independently of the Western Australian Government Railways
network for more than seventy years, from 1892 until government takeover in 1964. The 446 km route served 39 stations and operated according to a distinctly British practice.
Between 1905 and 1918, the company actively pursued a scheme of land classification and settlement led by land agent and politician James Gardiner
. The first subdivision was auctioned at Moora on 22 June 1906.[4] By 1911, 16 subdivisions between Midland Junction and Dongara had been classified and auctioned. In 1910, Gardiner instigated and managed the Ready Made Farms Scheme, which provided cleared and fenced farms with houses to prospective settlers.[5] The townsites of Coorow, Carnamah and Winchester formed the backbone of the scheme. The scheme was advertised widely to British citizens and was moderately successful, with 35 of the 58 farms sold by the end of 1915.[6]
The Western Australian Government Railways
later built a parallel line about 50 km further east.
Between 1914 and 1917, business declined rapidly and the company operated at a loss. This was brought on by decreased revenue owing to the construction of the Western Australian Government Railways
Northern Railway
(which captured railway traffic from the Midland Railway), crop losses due to drought, the loss of men from districts owing to the First World War
, and the imposition of new federal taxes. In 1918, the scheme was wound up.[7]
The line was acquired by the Western Australian Government Railways in 1964.
resurrected the name for the Restaurant train business that ran the Spirit of the West
for a number of years.
to Midland also.
The site of the Midland Railway Company Workshops (a different and separate workshops north west and the other side of the main rail corridor from the Midland Railway Workshops
and marshalling yard (which actually worked across the Great Eastern Highway
next to the town Post Office) is now the location of the Centrepoint shopping centre and its car-park.
'Pacific' locomotives, originally numbered C 12-15 and D 20-24 2-8-2
'Mikado' type, later the C class were renumbered C 14-18. Eight A Class and three B class 4-4-0
locomotives, numbered A 1-8 and B 12-15. They were built by Kitson and Company A and B, North British Locomotive Company
C and D. All were withdrawn from service in 1950s. A 6 was placed on a plinth in a park in Geraldton as a display, but in 2000, was removed due to poor condition and road transported to Midland Workshops for possible restoration by members of Rail Heritage Group WA, however, the group could not proceed with the work required, and were required to remove all their assets within the workshops site (due to the site being refurbished and redeveloped) and moved these to their Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean WA, work to restore A 6 has not proceeded as of year ending 2010.
in the form of diesel mechanical shunting unit E 30, being a 0-6-0 type and powered by a six cylinder Rolls Royce model 6CFL engine rated at 350BHP. A year later the first of six F class A1A-A1A Mainline diesel electric units entered service, built by English Electric Australia at their Rocklea plant in Queensland, these units were powered by EE 6SRKT in line engines and produced 790HP for traction. Numbered 40-46 these units worked the entire MRWA line due to their axle loading of 12 tons.
In 1963, two G class Vee 8 powered units entered service, but due to their 16 ton axle loading were restricted to working between Midland and Watheroo only. these units numbered 50 and 51 had EE 8SVT engines, (the only such engines in Australian built locomotives.) and were built to the British Rail 20 class specifications excepting rail gauge and some body detail. They produced 1100HP, of which 1000HP was available for traction. These units proved to be the last investment by MRWA as by January 1964, WAGR had taken over the trackage and all assets of MRWA.
All Diesel locomotives, and other worthwhile rollingstock was absorbed into the WAGR fleet, reclassified where necessary and those not deemed worthy of inclusion, scrapped. The Passenger Carriages of MRWA were retained and reclassified, and some Brake Vans also retained and reclassified.
The diesel fleet retained their classification and numbers.
Midland
-Places:In Australia:* Midland, Western AustraliaIn Canada:* Midland, OntarioIn Germany:* Mittellandkanal, the Midland CanalIn Ireland:* Midland Region, a region of the Republic of IrelandIn the United States:...
, an industrial satellite city of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, and Walkaway
Walkaway, Western Australia
Walkaway is a small town in the City of Greater Geraldton local government area of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Walkaway had a population of 262....
near the city of Geraldton and was built on a land-grant principle.
The Midland Railway was one of the longest-lived privately-owned railways in Australia, operating independently of the Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
network for more than seventy years, from 1892 until government takeover in 1964. The 446 km route served 39 stations and operated according to a distinctly British practice.
History
Construction of the Midland Railway commenced in 1886 through a privately-funded project[1] during a period when funds were being raised to establish agricultural and mining railways.[2] The Western Australian Government granted a land concession of 3319464 acres (13,433.4 km²) to the Midland Railway Company following its registration in 1890. The concession of 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land for every mile of railway completed entitled the company to select land between Midland Junction and Walkaway, near Geraldton, within 40 miles (64.4 km) of the new railway.[3]Between 1905 and 1918, the company actively pursued a scheme of land classification and settlement led by land agent and politician James Gardiner
James Gardiner (Australian politician)
The Hon. James Gardiner was treasurer of Western Australia from July 1902 to April 1904, and June 1917 to April 1919.-Early life:...
. The first subdivision was auctioned at Moora on 22 June 1906.[4] By 1911, 16 subdivisions between Midland Junction and Dongara had been classified and auctioned. In 1910, Gardiner instigated and managed the Ready Made Farms Scheme, which provided cleared and fenced farms with houses to prospective settlers.[5] The townsites of Coorow, Carnamah and Winchester formed the backbone of the scheme. The scheme was advertised widely to British citizens and was moderately successful, with 35 of the 58 farms sold by the end of 1915.[6]
The Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
later built a parallel line about 50 km further east.
Between 1914 and 1917, business declined rapidly and the company operated at a loss. This was brought on by decreased revenue owing to the construction of the Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways
Western Australian Government Railways was most common name of the Western Australian government rail transport authority from 1890 to 1976. It is, in its current form, known as the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia....
Northern Railway
Northern Railway (Western Australia)
-Northampton Line:Opening in 1879 the Northern Line originated as a service between Geraldton port and mines at Northampton. It was the first government built railway in Western Australia - as other lines had been built prior to this date - but they were privately built...
(which captured railway traffic from the Midland Railway), crop losses due to drought, the loss of men from districts owing to the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the imposition of new federal taxes. In 1918, the scheme was wound up.[7]
The line was acquired by the Western Australian Government Railways in 1964.
New Company old name
In 2002 as the earlier original Midland Railway Company business was no longer existent, the South Spur RailwaySouth Spur Rail Services
South Spur Rail Services is a Western Australian owned railway company that provides terminal operations and short haul rail services to the rail transport industry. It is a family owned and operated business formed in 1997 whose shareholders come from a Westrail background.South Spur Rail have a...
resurrected the name for the Restaurant train business that ran the Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West (train)
The Spirit of the West was a restaurant train that operated out of Perth, Western Australia. It was the brainchild of South Spur Rail Services and began using four restored coaches hired from the Australian Railway Historical Society and a power car purchased from the ARHS and restored to running...
for a number of years.
Workshops
The Midland Railway established its workshops and headquarters at Midland Junction. Later on, in 1906, the Government Railways relocated their workshops from its overcrowded site at FremantleFremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
to Midland also.
The site of the Midland Railway Company Workshops (a different and separate workshops north west and the other side of the main rail corridor from the Midland Railway Workshops
Midland Railway Workshops
The Midland Railway Workshops in Midland, Western Australia were the main workshops for the Western Australian Government Railways for over 80 years.-History:...
and marshalling yard (which actually worked across the Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
next to the town Post Office) is now the location of the Centrepoint shopping centre and its car-park.
Rolling Stock
The Midland Railway Company operated a number of locomotives, thirty-three passenger carriages, fourteen brake-vans and some 600 goods vehicles.Steam Locomotives
The railway operated four C class and four D class 4-6-24-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
'Pacific' locomotives, originally numbered C 12-15 and D 20-24 2-8-2
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
'Mikado' type, later the C class were renumbered C 14-18. Eight A Class and three B class 4-4-0
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
locomotives, numbered A 1-8 and B 12-15. They were built by Kitson and Company A and B, North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
C and D. All were withdrawn from service in 1950s. A 6 was placed on a plinth in a park in Geraldton as a display, but in 2000, was removed due to poor condition and road transported to Midland Workshops for possible restoration by members of Rail Heritage Group WA, however, the group could not proceed with the work required, and were required to remove all their assets within the workshops site (due to the site being refurbished and redeveloped) and moved these to their Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean WA, work to restore A 6 has not proceeded as of year ending 2010.
Diesel Locomotives
In 1957, MRWA took delivery of its first diesel powered locomotiveDiesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
in the form of diesel mechanical shunting unit E 30, being a 0-6-0 type and powered by a six cylinder Rolls Royce model 6CFL engine rated at 350BHP. A year later the first of six F class A1A-A1A Mainline diesel electric units entered service, built by English Electric Australia at their Rocklea plant in Queensland, these units were powered by EE 6SRKT in line engines and produced 790HP for traction. Numbered 40-46 these units worked the entire MRWA line due to their axle loading of 12 tons.
In 1963, two G class Vee 8 powered units entered service, but due to their 16 ton axle loading were restricted to working between Midland and Watheroo only. these units numbered 50 and 51 had EE 8SVT engines, (the only such engines in Australian built locomotives.) and were built to the British Rail 20 class specifications excepting rail gauge and some body detail. They produced 1100HP, of which 1000HP was available for traction. These units proved to be the last investment by MRWA as by January 1964, WAGR had taken over the trackage and all assets of MRWA.
All Diesel locomotives, and other worthwhile rollingstock was absorbed into the WAGR fleet, reclassified where necessary and those not deemed worthy of inclusion, scrapped. The Passenger Carriages of MRWA were retained and reclassified, and some Brake Vans also retained and reclassified.
The diesel fleet retained their classification and numbers.
The Survivors
- E 30 preserved at Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean, WA.
- F 40 Operational with Hotham Valley Railway at Pinjarra, WA.
- F 41 Static Display within the Moora, WA. Railway Reserve near station.
- F 43 Preserved at Rail Transport Museum at Bassendean, WA.
- G 50 Operational (requires Generator replacement) with Hotham Valley Railway at Pinjarra, WA (This unit is owned by Rail Heritage WA, and is on loan).
- A 6 4-4-04-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
stored at Rail Transport Museum Bassendean, WA. awaiting restoration. (Only remaining Steam locomotive of former MRWA).